CHAIN provides temporary foster care for rescued and abused animals and then attempts to find suitable homes for them.  Apart from the regular clinics and work in the field treating and rescuing many sick animals, this small group of dedicated volunteers also does fundraising, arranges events, food collections and more.  The organization is totally reliant on donations and volunteers to continue its work.

The staff from Vetsol in Somerset West joined hands with CHAIN and a total of 78 animals were treated over a 2-day period!  This time we spayed or neutered 28 cats (22 x female, 6 x male) and 50 dogs (37 female, 13 male).  These animals came mostly from the Tulbagh community but we also had animals from PA Hamlet, Ceres and Bella Vista, Wolseley and Montana as well as Gouda.  Thus a great impact has been made on the over population problems in the valley, not only in Tulbagh.

Bulla (Before & After) – This was one of the first dogs rescued by CHAIN.  He was in a shocking condition but make a remarkable recovery into a solid and healthy specimen!

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Rusty Jan 2011 – Rusty arrived at CHAIN with almost no hair.  His owners were planning to drown him or “deal” with him using a pick axe!  Constantly cowering, he was obviously abused.  After a few months in foster care his coat grew back beautifully and he turned into a confident, happy dog (as can been seen in the photo Jan 2011).  He was adopted by a supporter in Cape Town.

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GavinJojodogs2 – A pic of our foster parents in Tulbagh with a few of their “children”.  As we do not have proper kennel facilities, these two special souls allow us to bring the dogs we rescue to their property.  We are in the process of raising funds for a much needed upgrade of the facilities, as they are certainly not ideal.  However, at least the dogs are off the streets and are receiving food and tonnes of love and attention from Gavin and Jojo.

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CHAIN Short Term Projects & Upcoming Events:

• Continue with our twice a month door to door clinics in Tulbagh and Wolseley
• Continue with our monthly sterilizations with the assistance of the Tulbagh Veterinary Practice, for the financially needy members of our community
• Build a base of like-minded contacts through networking with other animal organizations
• Take the necessary action, with the help of our local Police and Magistrate, against any perpetrators of animal abuse in our region

CHAIN Long Term Projects & Goals

• To establish a permanent animal shelter / kennel facility
• Spread our work into the remaining suburbs in Wolseley and establish regular clinics in Ceres
• Create Education programmes suitable for the schools in the area
• To become financially strong so that a more stable infra-structure is in place to sustain the organization
• Training for CHAIN members for field work so the workload of those in the field is reduced

Bank details are:  CHAIN Boland, Standard Bank Tulbagh, Acc:  085 958 557 Branch:  050307.  A Debit Order form is also available.

Gaynor Saayman

saaymangr@mweb.co.za

http://www.chain-boland.org

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What has this got to do with South Africa? Nothing. People who celebrate Guy Fawkes are still clinging to colonial roots, from which we have long been emancipated.

I have always considered the Guy Fawkes celebration a little ironic. The reason I say that is this: Fawkes was stopped just as he was about to light the gunpowder that would have blown up parliament and its inhabitants. So in order to commemorate this, one should buy fireworks, and NOT light them. To light them would be to express solidarity  with Guy Fawkes, a religious terrorist, hardly politically correct!.

People who light fireworks on 5^th November are not doing so because they are celebrating a valid South African tradition; they are doing so because it’s an excuse to party, and they normally do so with no consideration for the needs of others. It’s time we banned this primitive and irresponsible practice.

eThekwini Munciipality no longer recognise it; it’s time for the rest of South Africa to follow their lead..

Know the law (excerpt from Ban Fireworks in South Africa on Facebook):

No person may light or ignite fireworks in any place where animals are present (R 1 000 fine). This includes domestic homes.

No person may allow any minor (child) under his or her control to “use, light or ignite” fireworks (R 1 500 fine). No exceptions to this rule.

No person may use fireworks on any agricultural holding or at any school or senior citizens’ residence without special Council authorisation ( R 1 000 to R 1 500 fine). This authorisation must be sought well in advance of intended day.

No person can use fireworks within 500 metres of any petrol depot or petrol station without special Council authorisation ( R 1 500 fine).

No person or organisation can “present a fireworks display” unless formally authorised to do so by the Council (at least 14 days’ notice before the display is required by Council to consider such an application).
Authorisation is also required from the Civil Aviation Authority and the Chief Inspector of Explosives. (Multiple fines of R 1 500 are applicable).

At such a display (should permission be granted) a pyrotechnist and SA Police Services explosives expert must be present at all times. (R 1 500 fines).

No person may deal in fireworks (sell or make available) unless they hold a fireworks licence in terms of the Explosives Act as well as the written authority of the Chief Fire Officer.(R 1 500 fine).

If you don’t have confidence in the South African Police Service (who does?) then you may want to contact your local reservist, community policing groups, or private security companies, who will probably be better equipped and more responsive.

If you can identify the culprits who are lighting fireworks in an urban area, effectively illegal since there are animals in any urban area, lay a charge.

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ForteLetterofAcceptance

Several Observations:

1. Several of the items in question were kept aside for safekeeping by Tracy and will be returned when her property is returned and she is paid.
2. Tracy will comment on the new allegations that goods were purchased with Wet Nose funds and appropriated by Tracy when she recovers, currently being under medication for severe stress. I think it’s opportunistic to suddenly add these here – why have they not appeared before?
3. Did anyone notice that Fiona Manuel, previously dismissed as the result of a disciplinary hearing in which she was found guilty of Gross Insubordination; Gross Negligence, Insolent Behaviour, Gross Dishonesty, Bringing the Company’s Name into Disrepute, Conflict of Interest, Conduct Unbecoming an Employee and Breaking down the Trust Relationship, is now the vice-chairman of the Board!?

I await the full response from the Wet Nose Board to my original post, and am looking forward to addressing some of the arguments contained in some of the comments made so far as well as the incorrect information provided by this Board in many instances. Once I have their final comment, I will proceed to analyse their arguments, step by step, in detail…

I also think it important to note that the IP address (an Internet address that identifies a specific computer on the Internet, and which this Blog monitors) of Anneke is the same as that of Angelique, which means either Anneke and Angelique are the same person, which is misleading in itself, or Anneke is in contact with someone who seeks to remain incognito and allows them to post using her computer, and I wonder why Anneke would do that? I actually know why, but more about that later…

Derek

Hopeful Homeless

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Hopeful Forum

While we are grateful to at last receive information from Council regarding the permit process, the inspection criteria and the appeal process, the following questions come to mind, and will be presented to Council:

1. The Council has said there was said there was ‘extensive public consultation’. Could the Council explain what the process was, who was consulted and who was engaged? Presumably the entire process was documented, since it is a legally-binding process, and it should be a simple matter for Council to produce the evidence.
2. The substance of the by-laws still presents constitutional issues which we will challenge at a later stage. Why has Council not responded to our Constitutional objections?
3. Is the appeal process in the bylaws? If not, how are people supposed to know to whom to appeal? It’s not good enough that Council sends this information to the public – it has to be part of the bylaws. The same applies to the inspection criteria – they must be part of the by-laws. The by-laws are therefore incomplete.
4. What mechanisms are in place to prevent spurious or malicious reports of animals on peoples’ property?
5. Do the guidelines indicate the criteria people must use to ‘get rid of’ one of the companion animals? Indeed, is this something Government has the right to do, and should any civilised society accept this imperative?
6. To where must these animals be sent? To surrender them to any animal shelter is to sentence them to death, since the shelters are already overflowing, and since these by-laws reduce the aggregate end-user capacity, there is nowhere else for them to go. Effectively, why should anyone be asked to do something that should be contrary to the conscience of a Nation?

Having consulted with our legal advisers, we believe the following are appropriate attitudes with regard to these by-laws:

• The by-laws are procedurally and substantively problematic. This means that there are problems with the laws from both a legal and practical perspective,
• Go through the legal process of appealing if you are declined and in the meantime do not surrender your animal companions.
• If you do apply for a permit you should indicate that you are doing so with dissatisfaction with regard to the law. Ideally, any communication with Council should include the following statement, or something similar:

‘I am opposed to these by-laws on constitutional, legal and practical grounds, but since they are in force, I am obliged to comply with your process. I will however also seek, at every step, to ensure that my rights are upheld and that the requisite proof is furnished to support any decisions made’

• Stay ‘under the radar’ – if nobody is complaining, don’t apply for a permit. Let Council approach you, and then take the steps as outlined in the last Blog post: http://hopeful.ws/2010/07/15/no-joburg-we-will-not-put-up-with-this

Lastly, please email me with any anomalies that you discover in your interaction with Council, so that we can further build our case against these by-laws. We are preparing a petition to Council to have the by-laws set aside, and in addition intend to mount a Constitutional challenge.

Best Regards

Derek

Hopeful Homeless

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I would like to thank Dr Bismilla and his Team for investing their valuable time so that we could present our objections to the Dog and Cat By-Laws enacted recently. Those present not only gave the issue their undivided attention but also asked questions that indicated their genuine interest and concern. Special thanks to MMC Development Planning and Urban Management, Roslynn Greeff for not only arranging the meeting, but supporting this initiative as well as the Hopeful Homeless.

In referring to the presentation, Dr Bismilla said that he found it rational, and could find nothing in it with which he could disagree. He also said that he had some concerns, not only with regard to the By-Laws, but in relation to the process of participation and whether it was satisfactory. Dr Bismilla is himself a “big animal lover” and I have to say that I found his manner gentle and his understanding insightful.

He suggested that we should meet again on this issue and include a wider spectrum of people, both from Government and the Animal Welfare community, so that there was a more representative collaboration. In addition, he saw a need to create a committee/group that would help Government achieve more representative and sustainable solutions in the area of animal welfare in the future. I undertook to organise who should be at that that meeting, since Dr Bismilla stated his intention to move this along rather than delay it.

To that end, I need you to do the following: Send me 5 names that you think should be present, with their email addresses, by email to derek@hopeful.ws

I will collate the information, approach the people concerned, and make all the arrangements. While on the one hand the decision as to who attends that meeting should be democratic, numbers will be limited and we must be pragmatic. I do see a need for each sector to have a spokesperson, and here are my personal suggestions:

1. Legal – Prof David Bilchitz
2. Cat Welfare – Tersia Baasden
3. Specialist Breed Rescue – Malcolm Gaw, Pug Rescue
4. Specialist Breed Rescue – Mandy Merber, Husky Rescue
5. Education and Animal Health – Heather Müller, Animals in Distress
6. Education and Sterilisation – Cora Bailey, CLAW
7. General Dog Rescue – Brenda Michau, CHARM
8. Initiatives – Paula Spangoletti, NO Animals in Pet Shops
9. General Dog Rescue – Patti Barron-Lowe, FORA
10. Feral Cats –  June Bradbury, Cat Trapping & Sterilisation Network

Ideally the person should be diplomatic, a strong communicator, and experienced. While the above are those I would invite, this is not my process, it is yours, and I will only be involved in the next phase to bed it down. I will also, if necessary, create polls on the Hopeful forum to facilitate arriving at decisions where there may be conflict.

Please note: It would be counterproductive to send in a petition at this time. Let’s give Government an opportunity to correct the situation before making demands. A petition now would be superfluous anyway, since we are dealing directly with the Director to whom the departments report that enacted the By-Laws.

We’ve made a start, let’s get this right the first time. It will also give animal welfare SA the opportunity to engage in a more cohesive, integrated manner, which I believe is an important step in the right direction at this juncture.

A Light in their Darkness,

Derek

http://hopeful.ws

Link to documents related to this issue:  http://hopeful.ws/arf/viewthread.php?tid=14

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Our Saturday excursion into Helenvale was only the tip of the iceberg and this massive problem will have to be an ongoing project. Armed with masses of pets mince which I had cooked up and which proceeded to spill in my car, (hope nobody needs a lift for the next 3 weeks!), and all the supplies which we needed, we all headed into Helenvale.

Mike Kerr had very kindly put a team of 6 guys together, without whom Patsy and I could not have managed.  Our first stop was at a home we had identified,  where three dogs were being kept in a small, dark passage of a shebeen shack.  Years of rubbish and rubble had to be cleared before we could even begin.  Fortunately, this expert team went straight in and were soon surrounded by inquisitive locals, most of them well into the weekend festive spirit!  In no time they had cleared the area and constructed the fence, being cheered on and directed by many a vocal local!  The joy of these three dogs as they were released into a running area, small as it may seem to us, made it all worthwhile.  One large kennel, some extra food and proper collars later, we were just about to leave when Patsy noticed that there were other barks from further in the house.

On investigation we had two horrendous discoveries;  a beautitful brindle Bull Terrier, chainedon a shelf in the main shebeen room.  Worse was still to come.  Behind some of the customers,  we noticed a wooden box, the size of an old tea-chest, completely enclosed.  In this box we found this dog .

He had been in this cell for three months.  Basic food and water was obviously supplied.  His master is apparently in jail and the dog was being held for him.  Obviously we confiscated this beautiful dog.  He is very loving and was so thrilled to run around our centre.  This is one we will urgently need to home.  We have spoken to the owner of the Bull Terrier and Patsy went to see him again this morning.  The dog is in very good condition and we will help the owner to create an area where this dog can run and play.

By now, quite a crowd had gathered and we were able to supply de-worming tablets and petfood  to many of these people.  Our next stop was at the home of the two dogs whose photographs were in my initial appeal.

The brown dog was purported to be vicious, but we discovered it was only the short chain and lack of space that made the dog in any way aggressive.  As soon as we gave him a bowl of pets mince and a runner chain, some room to move and a kennel of his own, he was the happiest soul.  The conditions are not ideal, but at least we have improved their lot and taken the first step.

The painfully-thin white dog now also has room to move, joyously running up and down.  She was also given a new kennel and scoffed down two bowls of pets mince, with more to come the next day.  The owners two little daughters only play toys were bricks and stones.  Patsy had noticed this on a previous visit and she presented the girls with rag dolls. Hopefully, with education and follow-up, we will be able to help these youngsters  to share love with these dogs and create the bond, as it should be. A German Shepherd discovered new areas for the first time, as did the the two dogs whose front yard created quite a challenge to our “he-men”!  Solid stone was not easy to penetrate!  At this home, even one cheeky cat got stuck into the pets mince, literally grabbing it out of the dog’s bowl!

Two more quick inspections along the way allowed us to help another two dogs to experience a little more freedom and running space.  As soon as we have  more kennels, we will supply shelter for these two dogs as well, as they are currently without shelter.  We have one or two more kennels to collect, but if anyone still has that kennel in the back yard, while your precious child sleeps on your bed, please let us have this to create something better for these poor souls. So, all in all, we managed to physically help 12 dogs, while providing food for many others.  This is just the beginning and I hope to be able to get the municipality involved here as well, as the problem is extensive.

On behalf of all those who cannot speak for themselves, our grateful thanks for your continued support.  Please remember that Tea-chest and the two pups are in urgent need of homes. To Mike and his Team – we salute you and offer our humble thanks.

Kind regards

Linda-Louise and Patsy

Animal Anti-Cruelty League

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