TRANSKEI Update
(Richard Norton and his team see situations and circumstances few of us imagine exist – they’re busy on the ground, reaching hearts and minds and making a difference in animal’s and people’s lives in the Transkei. This is a FAR cry from the relatively cushy shelters of suburbia…)
________________________________________________
THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
A Gauteng visitor on his four-wheeler, that watched us treat dogs on a hill in a Transkei Village, re-marked with awe: “There is nothing here, no fences, no electricity; only mud huts and cattle tracks. It is the same as it must have been 1000 years ago – it‟s awesome!” Yup! That‟s for sure, but with that comes the isolation from most 21st century vices and virtues. It is almost impossible for suburbanites to grasp such contrasts, for example, how +/-200 dogs can live in the same village with no fences. Unfortunately, however, this poses challenges that most of the other animal welfare organisations do not face. Thankfully the 3 of us seem to be making a difference to both the cultural attitudes and the +- 280 dogs we treat throughout 13 communities on a monthly basis. But, the beauty is dulled when we must walk past! Then you take the shelter dogs for a walk on a 5km un-spoilt, Wild Coast beach and watch them swim and romp in absolute freedom though freedom has its cost…
Twiggy & Santa
Twiggy was a perfect example of a dog about to die from a simple worm infection combined with neglect and ignorance. SANTA Paws donated 900 worm pills in April (and enough meds to spay 80) which is helping to treat hundreds of similar cases. These ‘free roaming’ dogs have to mostly scavenge to survive and they are susceptible to picking up worms. A month later Twiggy is spayed and healthy, but alas, carries scars of abuse. But we will find a good home for her!
So much Beauty and so much Beast…
_______________________________________________________________
THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST continued…
· Having a supportive volunteer vet who gladly assists when he is in town and mostly forgets his invoice book.
· Witnessing how many people breed and sell dogs here.
· Being able to help an old Mgogo‟s dog get better.
· Trying to cope with the reality of some cultural practices on Dogs that make everything curl . . But hey, it‟s Africa and it has potholes. But as a previously judgmental Gauteng Whitey. It‟s hard.
· Seeing our 2 local passionate staff become qualified Animal Welfare Assistants as soon as feasible . . We can then do more.
· Having to spend too much time behind a computer I cannot fathom.
· Having 6 amazing people support us who don’t know us and have never even been here. . . You are ever in our minds.
· Seeing how little people have and knowing how little their dogs get.
· Getting zero support from the inept local Municipality.
· Running a small shelter/rehab where the dogs are able to go for a free run and swim on the beach.
· Trying to explain to an idiot that the Mgodoyi is just as important as his thoroughbred Alsatian and deserves the same.
MGODOYI (pronounced Gudoy) is a Xhosa word for „Tough Shit‟ and the name whities, who speak the lingo, call these typical Transkei Dogs. An apt description and the name we gave this guy we picked up off the main road looking for KFC scraps last week. The name fits his attitude! He will translocate well to a new village-home once we have revived his health and neutered him to stem his particular lineage.
Snaring by the barrowful
On our last Outreach we came across one of the many who breed ‘Hunting Dogs’ to sell. Lots of rural households ‘hunt’ to feed their families using dogs and wire snares. We have approached WESSA and others as we estimate at least 1000 snares are set each month in each village
He breeds them by the barrowful but at least he brought them for treatment…small steps!!!
To those of you that support us each month, you give us more than just money. You also encourage our belief in what we do on behalf of mankind. THANK YOU!
Banking Details:
Acc: PsJ Animal Welfare Initiative, Standard Bank, Mthatha West, 2621, Acc. no. 061047562 Branch Code 052621
Hiya Richard good to hear from you. Hopeful is fine, but more important Custodians has grown in membership and in addition we have progressed quite far towards getting it formalised. I’d LOVE a report back from you more often , does not have to be in a formal format, just send me pics and text!
Hi Derek , just happened to come across this one while browsing . . it looks so much nicer on your site . . thankyou!! May I ask how you and Hopefull are doing? I dont get much chance on the internet as we now operate from a place with no signal so miss out a lot. But on the up side, we are closer to the areas we work and are far more productive.
Kindest Regards
Richard