JOE SLOVO SPAYATHON, EASTERN CAPE
(I love to get updates from Linda-Louise. They’re always inspiring and represent an example to all of us of what can be done if we make the effort. They always need assistance, so I have put their banking details at the bottom. I know they need food and blankets – animalman)
Our most grateful thanks to Dr. Tarryn Fick and her team of vets and theatre staff who gave so graciously of their time. It was a long day indeed! To all of the volunteers who manned the registration, security, admin, premed and the recovery room, thank you. You touched so many lives there on Saturday. Yes, there were some very sad cases – broken legs, starvation and neglect, but all in all there were also some very caring owners who were happy to sit for many hours waiting for their pets to come out of the recovery room.
I will not live down the fact that I managed to get the water turned off on us with immediate effect! On arrival, we found so many taps wide open, huge leaks from under the corridors, the field and courtyard flooded, etc. and with the state of the drought, I immediately called the Water Emergency Hotline. Their answer to the problem was not to send someone out, but to simply turn off the water. Thank heavens for Tony who had so kindly organised 1000 litres of borehole water for us plus all the Mondi bins and trestle tables. Miracles do still happen!
Every dog was sent home with a blanket, a packet of food and an ingeniously-designed, all-in-one collar and lead. Out of the goodness of their hearts, Sarie Marais and Ingrid Smith had taken on this onerous task and had made literally hundreds of these collars and leads. Both owner and pet were so proud and we were so relieved to remove some of the horrendous chains. Thank you, thank you, Ingrid and Sarie.
Many of the volunteers only had their “lunchpacks” right at the end of the day. Thank you to Hilary and her task team for these packs. The sustenance was vital!
72 dogs and two cats were sterilised, with a further 30 dogs being registered for sterilsation at our clinic this week. On behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves, our grateful thanks for the 13-hour day that you all devoted to us on Saturday and for the many hours spent in preparation towards this day.
Sunday was another day! This was the official dipping, de-worming and inoculating day! Approximately 400 animals were treated in total, with about 14 volunteers having been thoroughly dipped themselves by the end of the morning, with Marion quipping that I need to have a “better flavour for the dip next time!” There were bathloads and boxes full of puppies, kittens, etc. The children were back for more Tempos, so very kindly donated by Cadbury’s – thank you, Sandi. This provided us with much leverage for the clean-up! We all left with various rescue cases and there will be more news of these cases as we ready them for a better life.
To those who could not be there physically, but who sent us donations, wishes and all the good vibes, thank you. We may not have changed the world, but togther we have made a difference.
Onward and upward.
Kind regards and deepest thanks
Linda-Louise Swain and Committee
Animal Anti-Cruelty League
082 838 3988
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