We’ve listened. We’ve travelled. We’ve consulted. We’ve worked with more than 200 shelters across South Africa.
Now we need YOU to read, comment and help us take the final steps. 💙🧡
So, what happens from here?
📖 STEP 1: READ THE STANDARDS
The draft Shelter Minimum Standards are being released for final comment.
This consultation is open to everyone who cares about animal welfare. Whether you run a shelter, work or volunteer in the sector, foster, adopt, or simply want to see better outcomes for animals, we want to hear from you.
View the draft here: https://barkingmad.co.za/files/articles/minimum-standards-animal-shelters-v4.pdf
Please read the standards and consider them through the eyes of shelters, the people who run them and the animals in their care.
Is something unclear? Is something unrealistic? Have we missed something? Is there an area where you believe shelters will need more support?
Tell us.
💬 STEP 2: SEND US YOUR COMMENTS
This is exactly what the comment period is for.
We don't expect everyone to agree with every word. We WANT questions, suggestions and constructive feedback.
Comments close at the end of October.
Email your comments to shelters@barkingmad.co.za
💻 STEP 3: JOIN ONE OF OUR FINAL BRIEFINGS
Haven't been involved before? That's absolutely okay.
Join us, hear how we got here, understand the standards, ask questions and add your voice.
📅 2 October 2026 | 14h00
📅 9 October 2026 | 14h00
👉 Register:
🐾 STEP 4: NOVEMBER — THE NEXT CHAPTER BEGINS
Once the final comments have been considered and the standards finalised, we move into the next exciting stage:
The establishment of the professional body for companion animal shelters in South Africa.
We will then begin opening membership applications — and membership will be FREE.
And this is really important:
This isn't being created to make life harder for shelters.
We know how hard sheltering already is.
This is about helping us help you.
It's about identifying where shelters need assistance, creating access to practical support, knowledge and resources, recognising organisations doing good work, and helping dedicated shelters continue improving the care they provide.
If you're running a shelter because you genuinely want to do the very best you can for the animals entrusted to you, this is being built for you.
You don't have to be perfect.
You need to be committed to doing the best you can for your animals — and willing to keep learning, improving and moving forward.
READ. COMMENT. QUESTION. PARTICIPATE. JOIN.
Let's create a stronger, more supported companion animal shelter sector in South Africa. 🐾💙🧡
