Animals rescued as devastating fire displaces 5 500 Dunoon residents

WARNING: This article contains graphic images that some readers may find disturbing.

After a devastating fire tore through Site 5 in Dunoon on Friday 9 January, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA immediately deployed its emergency response team to assist with the evacuation of animals and provide urgent medical care to those injured or displaced.

Intense fire conditions, combined with strong winds, severely hampered firefighting and limited access to affected areas, forcing rescue teams to operate cautiously along the fire’s perimeter.

ALSO READ: Firefighters assaulted as crews battle major blaze in Dunoon

During these efforts, a badly injured cat was found struggling near the edge of the blaze. Suffering from visible burn wounds, the animal was rushed to the SPCA’s Animal Hospital, where veterinary teams worked urgently to stabilise shock, manage pain and treat dehydration. Once stable, the cat was sedated to allow veterinarians to fully assess the extent of the injuries to its paws.

Fire crews remained on the ground throughout the day and into the night, battling volatile conditions as wind continued to fan the flames.

The day after: searching the ashes for survivors

With the flames extinguished, the scale of devastation became heartbreakingly clear. The SPCA returned to Site 5 the following day as part of the City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management on-site Joint Operations Centre, beginning large-scale search and rescue efforts as recovery operations took shape.

ALSO READ: Cape Town Mayor joins relief efforts after devastating Dunoon fire

What responders encountered was “heartbreak layered upon heartbreak”. Families who had fled with nothing but the clothes on their backs — many clutching their companion animals — were now faced with impossible choices. With no shelter, food or certainty of what lay ahead, some residents made the agonising decision to surrender their pets, hoping they might find safety, stability and care elsewhere.

“Temporary safe custody was offered wherever possible, but many owners chose permanent surrender out of selfless concern for their animals’ wellbeing, knowing that rebuilding their own lives would demand everything they had,” the SPCA said.

Resources stretched as donations urgently needed

At the same time, injured animals continued to arrive at the SPCA — suffering from burn wounds, dehydration and shock — their injuries silently telling the story of the fire’s ferocity. This surge comes at a time when SPCA resources are already under severe strain following the festive season, with teams bracing for more rescues, more injuries and more lives depending on urgent intervention.

Approximately 5 500 people have been left homeless after more than 1 000 dwellings were destroyed in Friday’s inferno, which aid organisation Gift of the Givers believes to be the worst informal settlement fire in the Western Cape since the 2013 Khayelitsha blaze.

The City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre says it will take time to determine the final number of affected residents, given the scale of the incident, although site clearing is underway and some residents have already begun rebuilding.

City urges public to donate

The public wishing to assist fire victims can donate non-perishable foodstuffs, personal hygiene items, nappies and blankets at the following fire stations: Goodwood, Roeland Street, Lakeside, Constantia, Hout Bay, Strand, Wynberg and Milnerton.

Donations to support the SPCA’s emergency response and veterinary treatment efforts can be made via the organisation’s official donation platforms. As recovery unfolds, the SPCA has appealed to the public for compassion in action, reminding residents that the work only begins once the flames are gone.

ALSO READ: Big Cat Sanctuary appeals for support after wildfire destruction