TEARS Animal Rescue (The Emma Animal Rescue Society)

TEARS (The Emma Animal Rescue Society) was founded in January 1999 by Emma Geary-Cooke, Joan Bown and Marilyn Hoole. It is named in memory of Emma, who died in a car accident; Joan and Marilyn carried on the work she started. The organisation is based at 4 Lekkerwater Road in Sunnydale and serves companion animals across the Western Cape's South Peninsula.

TEARS rescues homeless, unwanted and injured animals and brings them to its own veterinary clinic for assessment and treatment, before rehabilitation and rehoming. Its kennels and cattery care for around 250 to 300 dogs and cats at any one time, many of them waiting for adoption or foster homes.

Much of its work takes place in the communities it serves, including Masiphumelele, Ocean View, Vrygrond and Red Hill. Teams visit daily to collect animals for sterilisation, and mobile clinics provide basic healthcare such as vaccinations and parasite control. TEARS offers free sterilisation in these communities and subsidised treatment for low-income households, and runs a community cat project and education programmes.

TEARS is a registered non-profit (NPO 044-441-NPO) and public benefit organisation (PBO 930 001 672), and donations qualify for Section 18A tax receipts in South Africa. It is funded by donations, its thrift shops, bequests and volunteers. You can adopt, foster, volunteer or donate through its official website.