ALICEDALE II
(I love any initative that focuses on the root causes of our problems, and sterilisation is one that reduces the number of unwanted animals better than any other strategy – animalman)
Well, where do I start? After a very successful outreach in Alicedale on 13 December, we realised the need to follow up with a mini-spayathon. So it was a small group of volunteers who packed up the vans, the trailers and Glen’s Hallmark Landrover and headed off for this small town, about 80 minutes’ away from PE. Eli and John are the perfect hosts and run the most wonderful B&B there. We were all treated to special rooms, cottages and even rooms at the Bushman Sands Golf Estate Hotel! This was a very classy spayathon!
The next two days proved very hectic, as owners and doggies slowly appeared out of every nook and cranny and Dr. Pikkie sterilised 50 animals, approximately 170 were treated, dipped, de-wormed and inoculated and several were rescued for follow-up.
We were so grateful to the team of Liz, Kathryn, Neville, Sharne, Stacey, Dylan and Jessica who drove through to help us. We could not have done this without them, as everyone had their particular tasks. Several of the team are now intent on moving to Alicedale, particularly our fieldworker, Bev! Naturally she is under serious bodily-harm threat from me if she does so!
After a long day on Saturday, it was relaxation time at Louis’ Pizza Pub n Grub and a good time was had by all! It was with a full tummy and slightly light head that most of us retired that night to our sumptious surroundings, a far cry from the day’s venue. A time to reflect.
Sunday proved hot and hard, with our having to even sanction police help in ensuring that a Pitbull female be spayed, as the very aggressive owner was intent on breeding with her, despite her mange and malnutrition. Several pups were handed over to us, to ease the burden on the owners.
In the centre of the block pictures you will see Phoenix. This little girl was left to fend for herself for three weeks and had had boiling water or oil thrown over her. She was covered in mange, ticks and fleas, but is now in the loving, nurturing care of Jimmy and Jerry, to whom so many animals in distress gravitate for healing. I know I have put her in the best hands and that soon her little soul will be completely healed. Daily updates have seen Jimmy grooming her with a soft toothbrush, Phoenix holding their four dogs to ransom as she claims Jimmy’s lap and finally her joining the pack in running to the door and barking as Jerry arrives home! What a little bit lof love can achieve!
Kathryn very kindly organised for Cynthia to bottle-feed and foster three little female pups that were handed over to us and Cynthia has also very kindly taken in two absolutely terrified pups that had had their tails docked in the most barbaric manner, very close to the spine. For Kathryn and Jessica, the day had begun at 7a.m. and ended only at 10.30p.m. when final delivery of the pups had taken place. Now that’s dedication to the animals. Thank you, Kathryn and Jess.
One Border-Collie cross has now had a successful leg operation and these five adorable pups are all hoping to creep into your heart and home. Please network them far and wide, so that we can offer them a chance at life.
Five more dogs will be brought through to PE for sterilisation, once they have finished feeding pups and we have been promised all of the female pups, so more to follow …
To the Alicedale Team of Glen, Hilary, Dr. Pikkie, Babs, Gwen, Patsy, Bev, Clayton, Eli and John, as well as to the marvellous interpreter and natural spayathon candidate, James, my most grateful thanks for the plain-sailing and organisation. Gwen – you thought of everything.
To those who contributed so vitally behind the scenes, without whom we could not have had such a successful spayathon – our sincerest thanks on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves: Sarie Marais and the teams of Collead-makers, including the EP Border-Collie Dog-Jumping handlers, to Marlene from Montego who so generously matched our dog-food purchase one-for-one, to Henrose Plastics for their donation of plastic bags for the wonderful pellet-packers and lunch-packers, to Ingrid Smith and the drape-makers, to Kim and Elbe from Intervet for the tick and flea muti and to all the generous people who donated towards the spayathon. You are all animal Trojans. If I have left anyone out, forgive me.
So many wonderful people are always so willing to help in whichever way they can. You are Supercalifragilisticexpialidotious! Or something like that!
Onward and upward for the animals.
Kind regards and thanks
Linda-Louise
Animal Anti-Cruelty League
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