Many charities attribute their existence to inspired individuals with a burning ambition to bring about change. PDSA owes its foundation to the vision of one woman – Maria Elisabeth Dickin – and her determination to raise the status of animals, and their standard of their care, in society.

During the First World War, Maria Dickin CBE worked to improve the dreadful state of animal health in the Whitechapel area of London. She wanted to open a clinic where East Enders living in poverty could receive free treatment for their sick and injured animals. Maria Dickin opened her free ‘dispensary’ in a Whitechapel basement on Saturday 17th November 1917. It was an immediate success.

PDSA South Africa was established as a branch of the PDSA (UK) in 1937, and from humble beginnings began operating in a stable in District Six. It went on to become an independent organization in South Africa in 1988, but to this day retains links with the UK organization.

What the PDSA does and how we differ from other animal welfare service providers

The PDSA (SA) is a welfare veterinary health care service provider – much like a welfare hospital for people – with the differences being that our clients are animals whose owners cannot afford private veterinary healthcare and we do not receive any government subsidy.

The PDSA does not engage in prosecution cases or in the re-homing of animals (as other animal welfare organizations do), we rather focus our resources in the provision of the best welfare veterinary health care service possible for animals whose owners are from poorer communities. We strongly emphasize and insist on the sterilization of animals – to prevent unwanted litters and to improve the health of the adult animal – we sterilize animals on a daily basis in each of our hospitals and undertake spay campaigns in areas that are not serviced by welfare veterinary service organizations. The PDSA (SA)’s achievements include the fact that we treat at least 235 000 companion animals each year. Without our intervention these animals would not have received any veterinary treatment.

The Head Office with a central administration is situated in Bridgetown, Cape Town. We have three hospitals situated in George, Cape Town (Bridgetown) and in Soweto; we have three satellite clinics situated in Athlone, Mitchell’s Plain and Soweto. Our nine mobile units reach 75 poorer communities that would otherwise not have access to any other welfare veterinary healthcare service.

We are dependent on our own fundraising activities and do not receive any government funding. To raise sufficient funding to cover all our veterinary costs it is necessary for the PDSA to engage in various fundraising activities.

Operates in: Cape Town, Western Cape
Established in: 1937

Non-Profit Organisation Number: 003-288
Public Benefit Organisation Number:
Section 21 Company Number:
Trust Number:

Contact person: Melanie Daniels
Phone: 021 638 5134
Fax: 021 638 4096
Email:

Website: www.pdsa.org.za

Physical address: Tarentaal Road, Bridgetown, Athlone, Cape Town
Postal address: P O Box 405, Gatesville, 7766