FreeMe wildlife rehabilitation centre was a volunteer organisation run by a board of directors, a small core staff and volunteers. The volunteers were the main workforce behind FreeMe and their hard work and dedication has facilitated the care and release of orphaned, sick and injured indigenous wildlife. They founded FreeMe back in 1997 in the north side of Johannesburg near the Rietfontein Nature Reserve and it was one of the only wildlife clinics in the area, since out veterinary clinics are not educated or equipped in dealing with wild animals. They used to collaborate with many veterinary clinics that treat the animals pro bono and organised drop-offs to be collected later and taken to FreeMe.
I have dropped off a few animals at the centre and kept an ear open about any news surrounding FreeMe. Little more than a year ago (November 2015) I had heard that the FreeMe volunteers had called for a resignation of 4 board members due to a dereliction of duty, which included the mistreatment of animals and the misappropriation of funds. The NSPCA (National Council of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has received many complaints regarding the care and wellbeing of the animals at FreeMe. This lead to a temporary closure of the facility, which later had become a permanent situation.
Later the Friends of Free Wildlife (FFW) stepped in and taken over the role of FreeMe. They located a property to house the facilities and are fully complaint to take in wildlife. They required expansion and modification to the existing buildings, which has since been completed.
You can assist FFW through Volunteering or Donations (monetary and other forms), since we are all counting on them to rescue, rehabilitate and release our suburban wildlife!
Links of FFW:
Sign the Petition for the resignation of FreeMe board members
Whisker Flowers 