Bloubosrand Animal Welfare Group
(I received this update and its heartfelt sentiments and rational appeal demanded my attention – I hope that somehow it catches the eye of someone with means… – animalman)
It’s year’s end – in January 2011 I will be working for 5 years in Cosmo City every week-end, relieving extreme suffering of animals, counselling their owners but also tirelessly trying to help residents wherever I possibly can. I can’t thank my kind donors enough for their consistent generosity. I address lots of kids every week – trying to give them a few guidelines how to become a caring, compassionate human being.
RDP Properties come unfenced – 2 Pets allowed per household – many Residents have no resources at all – no Animal Clinic included in the development (??) - no Council Sterilisation Plan in place. A Recipe for Total Disaster! Who is responsible?
How can anybody – involved in this development – overlook and be indifferent to the suffering of the animals who are legitimate residents of Cosmo City? The Animals Protection Act – which, I hear, is under review now – is not implemented.
The abuse of ‘end of lay’ life chickens is shocking.
I am not saying that all people are deliberately cruel to the animals – homeless puppies/dogs are being taken in and residents have no means of caring for them. Last Friday a beautiful, loving puppy died from (not deliberate) neglect. The presence of a clinic would have saved her. I also encountered again masses of dogs whose ears were raw from fly bites, full of fleas and ticks, extremely hungry, puppies just skin and bones. (I felt destroyed, I cancelled my Party invitation as well as my New Years Day invitation).
Many residents need help – many don’t even have money for water – Alcohol is a huge, huge, huge problem etc.
How Codevco can permit a ‘Liquor Shop’ soon to be opened by Shoprite is beyond my comprehension, when I mentioned it at the last Codevco meeting, the ward councillor simply stated that if the liquor board agrees, the shop will be opened.
I was at a loss for words – which does not happen often - even to make a quick comment.
Those who can erect fencing often struggle, because the ground is not well levelled in many, many places.
My letter to the City Manager – Mr. Mavela Dlamini – resulted in the grant of a piece of land for the Animal Clinic.
I also had a site meeting in Cosmo with a government official whom I approached for help – he asked me to find out:
a) Location of the land b) Size of the land c) What else would the City provide for the Clinic (R42 Million were allocated to Cosmo in mid 2010) – So far I received no response and politely request information soonest.
An Inspector for Animal Welfare is urgently needed as well as a Social Worker to assist residents.
Nobody can understand that builders are not readily prepared and willing to erect a small structure for the animal clinic which could be extended later – particularly since the land is available now. My friendly and polite approaches fell on deaf ears!?
Please, will somebody come forward and build the Clinic for the Animals!
Cosmo could easily be ‘A Place in the Sun for Everyone’ if it was correctly and properly managed.
Just to ‘plonk’ down lots of houses is not sufficient.
I promoted Cosmo on my Notice Board using this slogan which made me eventually the laughing stock in the region.
As recent as 6 weeks ago, somebody reminded me at a meeting of my ‘total misconception of the situation’ and happily embarrassed me infront of everybody. Since I was brought up never to retaliate, I simply stated that I believed with all my heart that Cosmo would be a great success and that good, caring people would manage it. (Roaring laughter from all – I was shown no mercy).
Of course, Cosmo City is not the only place where the City of Johannesburg/Government is totally failing in their duties – all ‘Townships’ and ‘Informal Settlements’ are horrific places of suffering – I speak daily to informalsettlers/township dwellers, many come to my gate needing help for their animals.
A total ‘turn around’ is required now - tax payers money needs to be spent for the upliftment of all animals, all people and the protection of the environment. This should be the first and foremost goal for the City of Johannesburg/all other Municipalities and Beneficiaries/Government for 2011!
Klarika - Co-Founder – Bloubosrand Animal Welfare Group – a sub-committee of the Bloubosrand Community Forum – helping destitute animals and counselling their owners. 011 462-1445 – Sandy Woods, Senior Member, 011 792- 0997
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