Having fallen asleep with a candle as a source of heat and light during load shedding on Wednesday 26 April, founder of Youth Pet Care, Nazrudeen Adams, woke up to the smell of smoke.
The 26-year-old who founded the non-profit organisation Youth Pet Care in Lavender Hill, says he fell asleep while waiting for the power to turn back on.
“Wednesday morning during load shedding at around 02:00 we waited for two hours for the power to go on, but it was off for four hours so we fell asleep during that time.”
Adams, who shares the home with his girlfriend, children and three dogs, was lucky to escape in time to douse the flames.
“We fell asleep while the candle was burning. When we woke up there were flames all over and black smoke.
“Half the bed was burnt, we lost the children’s shoes and clothes and the couch. We are still sorting through everything. It is also very cold inside because we need roof sheeting after it was damaged in the fire.”
While the family escaped unharmed they have lost most of their belongings including shoes, a cupboard and the children’s school uniforms.
The former gang member who is known for starting the Youth Pet Care organisation in 2020 out of love for animals, changed his life around after a family member took him in as a teenager.
“I ended up living on the streets at around 14, sleeping in cars and sleeping on the street when my aunt in Pelican Park took me in.”
Adams has been assisting residents in Lavender Hill and surrounding areas with injured pets, food and treatment for fleas and ticks for the past four years.
“My love for animals started two to three years before I started the organisation and my very first dog was named psycho. That was my best friend. Animal Lifeline assisted with donating dog food for my dogs and then helped with the community and that is how we started and got into it.
“We help where we can; during that time I walked through the flats alone dipping the dogs for free.”
Born and raised in Lavender Hill, Adams says he moved to Pelican Park for two years where he became a Christian.
“There is a lot of violence in Lavender Hill. I was raised by my mother and we are 10 children all together, I am the eldest.
“At the age of 14 I left home and slept on the street and in cars when my aunt took me in and helped me. While growing up I also used to keep guns for gangs; I am happy for my experiences though because I can now share it with young children and warn them that you can get killed for doing it.”
He adds that Youth Pet Care aims to educate residents on how to properly take care of their pets.
“We care about the people and we care about the animals. People do not pay a single cent for assistance. And your dog doesn’t care whether you have money or not or whether you wear broken shoes.
“Education is important and I can see the change in the community.”
Youth Pet Care has a donation box at Long Beach vetshop and at Pick n Pay in Constantia Village where dog food can be dropped off to assist animals in need.
For more information visit Youth Pet Care on Facebook.
