MARS SA - TUMI MASEKELA

Mars Petcare and Royal Canin has launched the first-ever State of Pet homelessness Index in collaboration with leading animal welfare experts in order to measure the scale of cat and dog homelessness by country. As the first consistent, methodological measure of pet homelessness by country, the Index identifies local contributing factors and builds insight into critical components that will inform future initiatives to help address the complex issue. The Index estimates that there are 224 million homeless cats and dogs across nine countries including South Africa. Built on input from across 200+ data sources supplemented with quantitative data on consumer attitudes, the Index ensures a holistic view on pet homelessness. Each country received an overall tally between zero and 10 (where 10 = no pet homelessness exists) based on data collected across three focus areas. The Index currently includes nine countries – the US, UK, India, Mexico, Germany, Russia, South Africa, China and Greece. Mars Petcare has been serving the health and nutrition needs of the world’s pets for over 85 years and its portfolio includes household brands like Pedigree, Whiskas and Royal Canin. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed perceptions of the role of cats and dogs in the home worldwide and after the hard lockdown in March and April 2020, pet ownership has been on the rise in South Africa. However, global data suggests that across the nine Index countries measured, nearly half (47%) of pet owners have concerns that post pandemic, there will be more homeless pets than ever as economic hardship makes caring for pets difficult. South Africa’s above-average sterilization rates help with reproduction control; however, work is needed to address the high rates of canine rabies, as well as the requirement for more robust national rabies control programs. Learn more at endpethomelessness.com. During Saturday’s Role, Renos Nicos Spanoudes chats to Tumi Masekela. Listen to the podcast and find out more!