Cape Town, 29 February 2024 – Global animal welfare organisation, FOUR PAWS South Africa announces Durban born artist and rescue dog guardian Kajal Bagwandeen has become its first ambassador for animal welfare. Bagwandeen is an advocate of animal rescue adoptions, sustainable living, and environmental consciousness.

Bagwandeen says that “When FOUR PAWS South Africa approached me to be an Ambassador, I immediately said yes, as it aligns with many of my own values. I am eager to use this opportunity with FOUR PAWS to make more of us aware of the connection between animals, humans, and the land we collectively live off and share. This, together with highlighting the importance of animal welfare and raising awareness of the integral work being done by FOUR PAWS.”

Her love for animals, and passion to help animal welfare started at a very young age, so much so that she once aspired to be a veterinarian but chose to direct this passion in other ways. Bagwandeen has consciously encouraged those around her to adopt rather than shop as well as brought awareness to the negative impact of supporting any animal interaction facilities both locally and abroad.

A supporter of Adopt don’t shop and responsible pet ownership, Bagwandeen a Boxer breed enthusiast has Zeus and she adopted Layla, a rescue dog from Boxer Rescue South Africa. Both dogs are lovers of the sun and with their individual personalities they form an integral part of the Bagwandeen household. Bagwandeen explains,” My dogs are family. They provide unconditional love, protection, daily laughs, free therapy and the best welcome home energy. So, if I can do something to help impact their wellbeing by joining FOUR PAWS in raising awareness about animal welfare count me in.”

FOUR PAWS is actively fighting to ban the commercial trade of ALL big cats in South Africa through its #BreaktheViciousCycle campaign. A campaign Bagwandeen is in support of after visiting a FOUR PAWS’ true sanctuary, LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary. “LIONSROCK is very different to a commercial breeding facility, as it does not allow any trade, breeding or interactions between people and animals. Instead, it is a place for rescued animals to live out their days in an environment as close to the wild as possible. With that being said, we are very excited to add a prominent voice, like Kajal to our movement to end animal suffering,” says Fiona Miles, Director FOUR PAWS.

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