Animal welfare matters
Helen Wynne-Dyke (newsletter volunteer): Animal Welfare Society Helderberg
Dear friends and supporter, as always, it’s been a year of highs and lows….but let’s start with happy news.
As a professionally accredited animal welfare facility we’ve again been privileged to host several German volunteers doing gap-year modules in animal care and welfare.
They come for approximately two months at a stretch and when they leave there are always tears all round. One enthused: “The time went by so quickly because I enjoy the work every day.
“I am grateful I was able to be in an animal shelter where there is so much love...” This is a gratifying testimony to the high standard of animal care to which we consistently aspire.
Outreach: Despite ongoing challenges with our elderly vehicles, inspectors Kyle Girodo and Prosper Kanengani venture daily into the townships, where they do invaluable work with the community.
In September we joined forces with the SPCA on an outreach to Webb Street, Gordon’s Bay when over 40 animals were treated in one way or another.
It is pleasing to see how many children line up eagerly hoping their beloved pets can be assisted.
We hope with sponsorship to expand this programme into areas not normally covered by our mobile.
But sadly… It is unbelievably disappointing that despite efforts at community education, so many animals are still being cruelly ill-treated.
We’ve found dogs tied up and left to die in a deserted field and animals in dire straits just dumped on the side of the road.
A beautiful young female was found at night on the highway with her legs tied together, having reportedly been there for several days.
Millie is a very sad and timid little girl, but as her badly injured feet gradually heal we are teaching her to trust humans again.
This is another heart-breaking case of animal cruelty, neglect and abuse of an innocent animal, but sadly not an isolated case.
Education: Animal abuse in South Africa can be attributed to a variety of reasons, often resulting from poverty: lack of resources to properly feed and house them, no access to veterinary care and sadly, children tormenting animals due to curiosity, imitation or a lack of empathy.
Education is probably the single most important factor in promoting responsible pet ownership and humane pet population management.
So if anyone can assist us with printing or photocopying costs we would love to increase the dissemination of educational material to the community like the Hero in my Hood publication Lucky’s Activity Book, a wonderful 36-page kiddies’ work-book that can be ordered from the Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) for only R15.
Adoptions: Our AWSH has an excellent adoption rate, but strict rules apply with home-checks before and after animals are released into permanent care.
Very good news is that little Max, after spending three years (yes, years) in a “No Kill” shelter was surrendered to us and adopted within days.
He now lives with caring forever humans sharing their love of long walks on the beach.
Best pals Pickles and Peaches were adopted together and dear Frankie eventually went to a fabulous forever home.
Kennel Project: During the winter months we were able to supply a number of kennels to keep township pets safe and dry, and the project continues as summer sets in and animals desperately need shelter and shade.
Your sponsorship of R750 will ensure the life of a pet or several pets will be changed for the better for ever.
Pre-loved kennels are also welcome, especially for larger breeds. Please WhatsApp Clare on 083 697 4759 for more information.
Thank you: As always, we thank both private individuals and organisations for their generous donations of food, bedding, cleaning supplies and even brand-new brooms for our dedicated kennel team.
We also owe a huge thank you to Samantha Mann, formerly of The Outreach Project (TOPS), for the donation of a beautiful dog trailer.
It could not have come at a better time, as our mobile is out of commission for a few weeks.
We were also bowled over after our request for swimming pools when these beautiful brand-new plastic shells arrived so our dogs can keep cool in summer.
Wish list: Dog treats for us are not a luxury but a necessity. They are used to photograph our kennel dogs for social media (adoption), to win over scared or aggressive township dogs and to calm nervous and uncooperative dogs during clinic and veterinary consultations.
We’d also be very grateful for tins or sachets of (soft) pet food to administer medications and leashes for larger breeds.
Koppe is Julia Evan’s own beloved therapy dog, our canine ambassador in various capacities at retirement homes, schools and fund-raising events (Julia is the general manager of the entire facility in Gordon’s Bay, including all the staff, kennels, cattery, hospital and clinic).
Koppe joins us now to wish all our friends, donors and supporters a joyous festive season and a happy, healthy new year.
● Carolyn Frost, editor of Bolander, adds: “Last week I popped into the AWS Helderberg charity shop on Reitz Street, Somerset West, to browse among the clothing racks, books, artwork, CDs and DVDs, kitchenware etc, and came away (as always) laden with gifts for friends over the upcoming Christmas season.
“I encourage people to support this wonderful organisation – all the proceeds go towards saving the lives of animals, caring for them and rehabilitating them for adoption, and covering the enormous ongoing costs.”