TEARS Animal Rescue

Our Vision

Our vision is to provide a sanctuary for companion animals in need, striving to end homelessness, neglect and abuse in the communities we serve through medical assistance, humane education, rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming. We believe we can do this by fostering a partnership approach through individual and corporate giving, and by working together with community and animal welfare groups to create a better world with compassion and understanding towards animals. Together we CAN make a difference.

How it all started

TEARS Animal Rescue’s mission is to rescue, treat, rehabilitate and re-home domestic animals, as well as provide veterinary services to local communities. As a pro-life, registered, non-profit organisation, we rely on the support of caring individuals and corporates to assist us in fulfilling our mission to bring relief to animals in distress, whether through intervention, education, medical assistance or rehoming.

Emma Geary-Cooke

The seeds that would eventually grow into TEARS Animal Rescue were planted when three women – Emma Geary-Cooke, Joan Bown and Marilyn Hoole – visited Masiphumelele with a bucket of tick dip and a packet of de-worming tablets. It was the desperate state of the dogs and cats they found in this impoverished area that motivated the women to begin to dream of starting an organisation that would alleviate the suffering of the animals they were trying to help, but on a much larger and more effective scale. Tragically, Emma was killed in a car accident. Devastated but undaunted, Joan and Marilyn were determined to carry Emma’s dream forward. In January 1999 The Emma Animal Rescue Society (TEARS) was established in her memory. At this time the plight of domestic animals in Masiphumelele had reached a crisis point. Mange was rife and many animals were skeletal – their guardians living in abject poverty, sometimes unable to feed themselves. De-worming, vaccinations and sterilisation were unheard of. Female dogs suffered from malnutrition and were unable to feed their puppies; many died. TEARS had started a clinic in Masiphumelele by March 1999, treating animals for fleas, mange and tick infestation. Food parcels were handed out. Animals needing veterinary attention and sterilisation were identified and arrangements made to have them treated by local vets. TEARS has since then grown into an established and sustainable non-profit organisation with a compliment of over 73 staff caring for around 300 dogs and cats on site at any given time.