A Safe Haven for the Voiceless: The Story of the Orkney & Klerksdorp Animal Shelter
- Karen Scheepers
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Founded in 2010, the Orkney & Klerksdorp Animal Shelter has become a pillar of compassion and advocacy for animals in the KOSH area. Established by a group of concerned citizens who recognised the desperate need for animal welfare in Orkney, the organisation emerged as a vital lifeline for abandoned, abused, and neglected pets.
When the Klerksdorp SPCA was forced to close its doors in January 2020 due to a shortage of funds and limited municipal support, the NSPCA turned to the Orkney team for help. Rising to the challenge, the shelter not only took over the SPCA’s property in Uraniaville, Klerksdorp, but also assumed the responsibilities of the municipal pound for the broader KOSH region, a testament to their dedication and resilience in serving animals in distress.
Mission and Purpose: Giving Every Animal a Second Chance
At the heart of the shelter’s mission is a simple yet powerful goal: “To rehabilitate and rehome as many unwanted and homeless cats and dogs as possible.”
The organisation follows a strict sterilisation policy, ensuring that all animals are spayed or neutered before being adopted. This proactive stance helps control overpopulation and reduces the number of homeless animals in the community.
Their work extends beyond rescue and rehoming, the shelter is also deeply invested in animal welfare education, teaching the public, especially schoolchildren, about responsible pet ownership. By instilling compassion and understanding, they hope to prevent neglect and abuse before it happens.
Expanding Impact: From Rescue to Education
To reach more communities in need, the Orkney & Klerksdorp Animal Shelter plans to establish satellite offices in:
🐕 Khuma
🐾 Jouberton
🐈 Kanana
These offices will make it easier to respond quickly to animal emergencies and to extend outreach to areas where veterinary and shelter services are limited.
The shelter also runs an education initiative that visits two schools each month, where children learn:
How to care for animals with kindness and respect
Why sterilisation is important
The signs of cruelty and neglect
How they can help report animal abuse
This effort is shaping a more empathetic generation, one that sees animals as companions, not commodities.
Community Support: The Heart of Their Work
As an independent non-profit organisation (NPO), the shelter relies entirely on public donations, volunteers, and local partnerships to sustain its operations. Every bag of pet food, every blanket, and every adoption fee contributes directly to improving the lives of animals under their care.
Residents are encouraged to support in several ways:
Adopt a pet and give it a loving home ❤️
Volunteer your time at the shelter 🐕🦺
Donate supplies or financial aid 💸
Spread awareness about responsible pet ownership 🗣️
For inquiries or to get involved, the shelter can be contacted at:
📞 074 306 9811
📍 Meteor Rd, Uraniaville, Klerksdorp, 2571
Continuing the Journey of Compassion
Today, the Orkney & Klerksdorp Animal Shelter stands as a symbol of what community-driven care can achieve. Their journey from a small volunteer initiative to a regional rescue hub reflects their unwavering commitment to animal welfare. Each adoption, each rescue, and each act of kindness brings them closer to their vision, a future where every animal in Orkney and Klerksdorp has a safe place to call home.
The shelter’s story is not just one of survival but of community transformation, where love, education, and responsibility unite to make a difference in the lives of countless animals.
Images credit: Orkney & Klerksdorp Animal Shelter
🐾💚🐶🐱🌍
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