Animal Anti-Cruelty League South Africa

Visit the Gqeberha branch of the AACL. Since it’s inception out of the boot of a private motor vehicle in 1983, the AACL Gqeberha has steadily grown and today, treats on average, 1300 animals per month.Many of the Animal Anti-Cruelty League Gqeberha’s workers are volunteers. Assistance is provided to indigent communities, including squatter camps, residing in the northern areas of Nelson Mandela Bay.  Fieldworkers witness cruelty, neglect and ignorance every day at the many dipping spots in these areas.  However, the AACL’s presence and the assistance they provide on a daily and weekly basis has brought both relief and upliftment to these communities and their pets.The AACL P.E’s clinic is located in Cleary Park and their charity shop is in Walmer, Gqeberha. On the 28th February 1956, through the determined efforts of a few volunteers, not least Founder, Olga R. Allen and compatriots Martin Hind and Wendy Harvey to mention a few, a body was formed in Johannesburg, to oppose the practice of holding rodeos. With less than ‘5 Pounds’ in the kitty, efforts were extended into the rescue and treatment of animals after Olga Allen accompanied a journalist into the townships of Soweto and Alexandra and realized the dire conditions that many animals were subjected to. At this time, the Anti-Cruelty League’s (as they were formerly known) mission, included the harbouring and care of abused women and children, but it soon became apparent that this would be a difficult mix to maintain and that concentration should be given to the area of animal welfare. Based out of a private house in the north-eastern suburb of Bramley, the group continued to be active and July 1959 saw the advent of the first branch office being established in Durban, after a meeting was held in a coffee shop between Olga Allen and still active chairlady and doyen of animal welfare, Joyce Northend.