One Simple Procedure Could Save Thousands of Animals from Suffering. In just 48 hours, a bold animal welfare mission is taking aim at one of South Africa’s most urgent and overlooked crises: runaway pet overpopulation. On 24 and 25 February, TEARS Animal Rescue is leading a high-impact World Spay Day campaign to sterilize 350+ cats and dogs. This will stop thousands of future animals from being born into neglect, hunger and overcrowded shelters.
“STERILIZING ANIMALS IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WAY TO REDUCE ANIMAL SUFFERING,” SAYS TEARS OPERATIONS MANAGER MANDY STORE.
One Simple Procedure Could Save Thousands of Animals from Suffering
The campaign, aptly titled “Stop the Cycle. Save Lives.”, brings together a powerful coalition including Animal Welfare South Africa, AfriPaw and veterinarians from TAH. Over two intense days, clinical facilities will be transformed into life-saving hubs, with teams working flat-out to reach under-served communities where access to veterinary care is limited or non-existent.
World Spay Day 2026
Why the urgency? Because one unsterilized animal can lead to hundreds, or even thousands, of unwanted animals over time. Many are born into hardship, with shelters already stretched beyond capacity. Sterilization doesn’t just rescue animals—it prevents suffering before it begins.
Store added, “WE SEE MOTHERS EXHAUSTED FROM CONSTANT BREEDING AND LITTERS BORN INTO NEGLECT. THIS IS NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE DON’T CARE, BUT BECAUSE PREVENTION DIDN’T HAPPEN IN TIME.
The goal for World Spay Day is 350 sterilizations
For this campaign, R500 covers far more than just surgery. Each animal receives sterilization, vaccination, a microchip and a bag of food, and is logged into a database that helps track progress area by area. The goal: 350 sterilizations, each one a powerful intervention against overcrowded shelters and unnecessary euthanasia.
SHE SAYS, “ONE STERILIZATION DOESN’T JUST HELP ONE ANIMAL; IT PREVENTS GENERATIONS OF SUFFERING.”
Help stop the cycle and save lives
TEARS works as a pro-life shelter, but even lifesaving organisations face hard limits. “When our shelter is full, we can’t take in more animals—even though the need is overwhelming,” Store explains. “That’s why prevention is everything.”
READ MORE: About the World Spay Day campaign
As World Spay Day approaches, the message is clear: one decision, one donation, one procedure can change everything—not just for a single animal, but for entire generations yet to be born.
