Pawsome Stories 2023
Mission To advance the rights, welfare and health of all animals.
Vision Our Vision is for all animals to live a life free of disease, cruelty and suffering.
Values Kindness, respect, compassion, awareness and integrity are sacrosanct in all aspects of our mission and vision for a cruelty-free society.
2 | Animal Welfare Society of South Africa
Welcome to our 6th edition of Pawsome Stories!
Dear friends, Deciding what stays and what goes in our little booklet of uplifting tales has become quite daunting. It’s a bit like deciding on which pet to adopt when you’re faced with an overwhelming selection of irresistible wet noses and wagging tails – near impossible! So if any of the past year’s stories that captured your heart have been omitted, then please know that it is not because they are any less compelling – it is simply because I was once again presented with an abundance of instances of the tremendous positive impact your continued support has enabled us to make to the lives of thousands of otherwise ill-fated animals. Nothing great happens by chance or due to luck, especially in the under-appreciated animal welfare sector where demand outstrips supply. To get ahead takes gritty determination, a devoted team and a circle of selfless friends – and we are very fortunate to have the best of the best in our corner. In approximately five years from now, we will be celebrating our Centenary Anniversary. Until then, please accept our very best wishes and grateful appreciation for being an indispensable part of 2023’s triumphs and enjoy the read. Season’s greetings and best wishes from all of us to all of you. Allan Perrins Head of Communications, Resource Development and Fundraising
PAWsome Stories 2023 | 3
About us
(B-BBEE Level 1)
The Animal Welfare Society of South Africa was founded in March 1929. Our organisation is member-based, non-governmental and an autonomous NPO and registered PBO established to ensure the rights, health and welfare of all animals. Over the past 94 years we have consistently executed our Mission to champion the cause of all animals. We have achieved this through: ❋ Professional veterinary care ❋ Inspectorate services ❋ Humane education, Sterilisation and Outreach projects ❋ Successful adoption and foster programmes that every year places many animals in loving forever homes At any one time we can house in excess of 175 sick or injured animals. We are committed to sterilising and microchipping every animal that comes through our hospital as part of our contribution towards reducing the number of strays, homeless and unwanted animals in the Cape Metro.
The Society relies almost solely on donations and does not receive state funding. Humane education as a pro-active animal cruelty preventative measure is pivotal in all we do. We offer a full range of veterinary services to the underprivileged and disadvantaged communities of the Cape Metro. From our base in Philippi, we handle about 4 000 animals per month. Our clinic is open 7 days a week to accommodate those who are unable to bring their pets during the week. We have 4 fully-equipped and very busy theatres where we do sterilisations, orthopaedic operations and many other procedures.
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The Society has an Animal Care Centre, where we take in stray, homeless, unwanted, abused, and abandoned animals and find them their forever homes. All animals at the centre are medically assessed, vaccinated, treated for internal and external parasites, microchipped and sterilised before leaving our care. Our Inspectorate Department responds to daily calls for cases relating to animal cruelty and general neglect of animals, as well as ongoing reported cases of animal fighting in our communities. We often respond to reports of injured stray animals on our public roadways and assist with the treatment and care of wildlife.
MEET OUR
Pawsome Team CEO: Dr J McMullen Hospital Department Vet: Dr Z Stoynova Nursing Assistants Mr C Samuels (Senior) Mr J Le Roux Mrs F Barnard Mrs N Foord Mr B Khumalo Mrs M Jaftha
Hospital Assistants Mr J Ngcakaza Mr O Mdudu Mr M Mgoduka Mr M Mliki Mr E Ngcakaza Mr S Zweni
Administration Department Ms C Hoy (Manager) Mr N Madikana (Hospital Receptionist) Ms M Cerfonteyn (Switchboard Operator) Inspectorate Department Mr M Levendal (Manager/Senior Inspector) Mr J van der Zandt (Inspector) Mr S Kilwa (Trainee Inspector) Mrs C Fester (Inspectorate Controller) Animal Care Centre, Humane Education and Outreach Department Mr L Nkotha (Supervisor) Animal Care Centre Assistants Ms S Beukes (Adoptions Co-ordinator) Mr N Ngcakaza Mr W Mphintsho Head of Communications, Resource Development and Fundraising Mr A Perrins Maintenance Department Mr A Jaftha (Manager) Mr I Kamiza General Assistants Ms L Tyatya Ms E Sifuba
CONTENTS Chapter 1:
Layla's first Christmas in her forever home............................................. 6 Chapter 2: World Spay Day saves lives............. 8 Chapter 3: Tofu's story has an eggcellent ending............................................................. 9 Chapter 4: Rewriting Kuhle's future................... 10 Chapter 5: Big and small: We sterilise them all.......................................................... 12 Chapter 6: Cape Dune Mole Rat saved by ... brave AWS volunteer........................... 12 Chapter 7: Pitbull rescued from alleged dog fighting pit.................................................. 13 Chapter 8: Off to a Rocky start................................ 13 Chapter 9: A mite-y itch............................................... 14 Chapter 10: Rescued: 5-month-old puppy saved after being stuck in .storm water drain.................................................. 15 Chapter 11: In the company of best friends.... 16 Chapter 12: Sharing is caring..................................... 18 Chapter 13: Back to the wild....................................... 19 Chapter 14: Plucked to safety.................................... 20 Chapter 15: Dog lovers unite to find and save Simba.................................................. 20 Chapter 16: Shot sheep saved................................... 21 Chapter 17: Happy ending........................................... 22 Chapter 18: 3-legged tortoise fitted with Lego prosthetic........................................ 22 Chapter 19: Every day heroes..................................... 23 Chapter 20: The hen that cried fowl...................... 23 Chapter 21: Larry leaps to recovery....................... 24 Chapter 22: Hadeda rescue highlights the consequences of littering................ 24 Chapter 23: Taking the sting out of the story... 25 Chapter 24: Hooray for Hay Hay............................... 26 Chapter 25: Living the life of Riley.......................... 26 Chapter 26: A hat-trick of achievements.......... 28 Chapter 27: OUTsurance goes the extra mile for animals....................................... 30 Chapter 28: My journey to becoming an Animal Welfare Inspector................ 32 Chapter 29: Mandela Day.............................................. 33 Chapter 30: Happily ever after................................... 34 Chapter 31: Spotlight on Dancers Love Dogs.. 35 Chapter 32: Gentle hands, kind words and soft hearts.................................................... 36
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CHAPTER 1
Layla’s
FIRST CHRISTMAS in her forever home We would like to thank you – our supporters, donors and adopters – for your continuous generosity, investment in our lifesaving work and for giving our adoption hopefuls a well-deserved second chance. You are the reason for our success and what better way to illustrate this than through the eyes of Layla. For many years Layla was living on the streets with an uncertain future. Last year, our little Princess got to enjoy her first Christmas with her forever family in Belgium, who love her very much. We really enjoy receiving updates and photographs from our extended family of pet adopters around the world and would love to start the New Year by sharing a few of your favourite Festive Season moments and happy snaps of you and your best friends. “Christmas gifts are an expression of love, so extending that to our furry family is simply wonderful” said Allan Perrins spokesman for the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa.
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To unleash your love for your pets, contact Shannon on shannon@awscape.org.za with a few of your favourite pics and an accompanying sentence or two for us to share.
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CHAPTER 2
World Spay Day saves lives
Did you know that February 28th is World Spay Day and that we have a Hollywood star (Doris Day) to thank for this special occasion! World Spay Day serves to remind us of the importance of sterilising our pets for a better and healthier life. Getting your pet sterilised is not only good for your pet, but it’s good for you. ❋ Sterilised pets tend to be less aggressive, and less territorial. ❋ They’ll be more inclined to stay at home, instead of roaming, getting into fights, and coming home with injuries. ❋ Instead of being obsessed with finding a mate they’ll want to snuggle up on your lap. Pet sterilisation represents the most humane way of dealing with pet overpopulation and goes a long way towards preventing animal cruelty, pet homelessness and reducing the pressure on overtaxed animal shelters.
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CHAPTER 3
Tofu's story has an
eggcellent ending
Oude Molen Eco Village in Pinelands has become a favourite dumping ground for unwanted pets – especially chickens. These once pampered birds are then largely left to free range and fend for themselves. Being tame, and not so street wise, leaves them vulnerable to predation, poachers and injury. In her bid to escape the pot Tofu, a mature Rhode Island White type hen, got trampled on by a spooked horse and suffered a badly broken right leg. The rest of her family were not that "fortunate" and it is still a mystery why the poachers left her to suffer. Thankfully she was spotted hobbling around and brought to our hospital where an x-ray revealed that her femur bone had been cleanly broken in two.
After weighing up all the options, and bearing in mind that chickens cannot hold their own weight on one leg, Tofu was carried into theatre where she underwent an intricate and somewhat unique orthopaedic operation involving the pinning of her broken leg. Since undergoing surgery Tofu is once again enjoying a pampered life and, much to the delight of her carers, rewarded them with an egg-a-day which is a great indication of the success of the operation and her adaptability. We found her a loving forever home with several other hens where she will get to free range and enjoy the rest of her life without ever having to worry about anything.
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CHAPTER 4
Rewriting Kuhle’s Future It is amazing what a loving home can do for a dog! Gail’s adopted dog Kuhle has made an awesome recovery and is now BFF’s with her brother Max and cousins Rocky, Taffy and Louise also adopted from the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa.
Kuhle last seen today at 13:25
Kuhle here, My momma told me the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa would like some photos of me (momma tells me you are the angels that saved me and kept me until she came along). Momma brought me home on the 22 May, 2022. We took a drive and my brother Max sang all the way home. He doesn't sit quietly in the car like I do. We finally arrived home and I was greeted by so many faces. I didn't know who they were but they were all happy and cheerful and said "Welcome home Kuhle". 5:18 PM
Type a message
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(Momma said they are my hooman family) I felt like a princess and kept my head and ears up high. I also met my furry family (nieces and nephew), they also came from the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa. I added some pictures of them all for you to see. I was so excited for my new life and everyone had a cuddle name for me. Momma says I am the poster child of the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa. They use my before and after pictures to bring awareness to humans about animal cruelty. I reckon that makes me famous so I have a way about me and everything I do is done in and with style.
much love all the time. Momma says sharing is caring. I had my first Christmas this year and there was this big tree with sparkling lights and loads of gifts underneath. Everyone comes together and celebrates. Momma also doesn't have to go to work for like a lot of days and we get to sleep in sometimes. I love Christmas time. Momma said when it is my birthday I will get a special cake and give party bags to my human and furry family. She says that is my very own special day and I can't wait...there will be a special gift for me as well...yippee.
I absolutely love it when we get treats. Aunty Sam watches us during the day and she gives us extras.....sshhhss she says, don't tell momma. Ooh did I mention my favourite food is Husky, the chunks in gravy!!!!
Thank you Animal Welfare Society of South Africa for keeping me for my momma. She loves me so much and taught me what it's like to be part of a family. Aunty Tash says it takes a village to raise children and I definitely found mine.
I am always having fun running with Rocky and Taffy. My brother Max is lazy, he just wants to eat and sleep. Sometimes I sing his ears off when he wants all momma's attention. He says I should stick to being a poster child and cover his ears.
As promised, here are some photos of mostly me... but I included my furry family. Love, joy and laughter Princess Kuhle
Momma had to go away for a few days for work and she was worried as this was our first time apart. So she arranged with aunty Lin to watch over me. I added some photos of my sleepover with Rocky and Taffy. It was fun, but I sure was happy when momma came home. I then understood why Max was counting down the hours and kept peeking through the gate to see if he could spot our car. Sometimes they call me Cocaloukey, Cocalina or Coco. But Pa calls me “gesiggies” cause who would not fall in love with this face. I didn't know what these words meant at first but momma said it's cuddle names. Did I mention that I am a Princess!!! I sleep next to momma and I have my own pillows on the bed. I like to fluff them to perfection until they are just right. This is my special throne...cause all Princesses must have a throne you know. Life is such bliss and I sprinkle joy and laughter everywhere I go. Cause I am showered with so
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CHAPTER 5
BIG and Small
We sterilise them all
There are numerous benefits to spaying or neutering a rabbit. There is evidence to suggest that sterilised rabbits can live a longer, healthier life as the risk of cancer and urinary tract infections are greatly reduced. They also tend to be calmer and easier to handle, are easier to litter train, and have less of an urge to spray. If that’s not motivation enough then consider this – one breeding pair of rabbits and their offspring can create nearly 4 million rabbits in only 4 years! I hope you are sold on the benefits and need to sterilise your rabbits.
CHAPTER 6 Cape Dune Mole Rat
saved by brave AWS volunteer
Mole rats are only a problem when we take away their natural habitat and leave them trapped in hostile concrete jungles, crisscrossed with tar roads, where our gardens are the only place left for them. They have earned themselves a luckless reputation whilst struggling to overcome the odds – and in the process incurred the wrath of man. Our Mole Rat's plight was thankfully noticed by well-known animal rescuer Liezel Benjafield, who stepped in to rescue the hapless creature when he found himself trapped, mercilessly beaten and relentlessly pelted with rocks by a group of delinquents in nearby Hanover Park. In our opinion, all animals lives matter, so our intrepid hospital team made him their priority – affectionately naming him Eskom (due to their preference of living in the dark) – and took great pride in releasing him back into the wild.
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CHAPTER 7
Pitbull rescued
from alleged dog fighting pit On 12 January, 2023 Senior Inspector Mark Levendal rescued an abandoned adult female Pitbull from an alleged dog fighting pit in Hanover Park. According to bystanders, dogs (especially Pit Bulls) are regularly thrown into the hellhole that is littered with contaminated drug para phernalia, used condoms and blood spatter where they are left to battle it out. The loser of the fight is reportedly abandoned in the pit and left to die a slow and agonising death. It took a massive team effort to safely haul the traumatised dog out of the pit and after spending an initial few weeks cowering
nervously at the back of her kennel, she slowly started to warm to everyone and is now a totally transformed dog waiting for her forever loving home.
CHAPTER 8 OFF TO A
ROCKY START
Rocky, a busy little 8-week-old kitten, spends most of his time racing around indoors and no-one is quite sure how he broke his leg, but on assessment it was clear that it needed to be pinned back together. His Hanover Park family have very limited means and after scraping a few Rands together from caring family and friends, they asked if we would be willing to help them save Rocky. We have never turned any needy animal away because of affordability and after meeting with the family and assessing the kitten’s injury, our Chief Executive Officer Dr Mac (Dr John McMullen) readily agreed to help.
The operation was a resounding success and Rocky is once again back home enjoying the companionship of his young owner with whom he shares a very special bond. Dr Mac also took the opportunity to sterilise, vaccinate and microchip Rocky whilst he was in our care.
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CHAPTER 9
A MITE-Y ITCH Puppies are undeniably adorable! They should be playful, cuddly, happy and most importantly healthy – which is the total opposite of a very depressed puppy we got to meet for the first time earlier this year. He had a bad case of mange and an almighty itch. His condition was allowed to worsen, but his owner eventually took pity on him and brought him in for treatment. We treat hundreds of dogs and puppies with mange annually and the good news is that it is mostly preventable and totally curable. There is absolutely no excuse to allow a pet to suffer and the sooner treatment is started the better. In the coming months we will be embarking on several Sterilisation, Outreach and Education campaigns aimed at preventing unwanted litters and putting an end to suffering and cruelty. We are confident that these projects will receive your support. The more help we receive the more animals we can help.
We value your support Donations can be deposited into our Nedbank Current Account: Account No. 114 822 258 8 | Branch Code 19 87 65. Gifts in kind can either be delivered to our HQ in Papkuilsvlei Road Philippi, collected by prior arrangement, or dropped off at any one of the following drop-off points: Starke Ayres Garden Centre Rosebank, Hart Nursery Ottery, Little Orchard Nursery Diep River or Forest Drive Veterinary Surgery Pinelands. AWS SA is a registered PBO and authorised to issue Sect 18(A) Donation Tax Certificates for all donations.
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CHAPTER 10
RESCUED! 5-month-old puppy saved after being stuck in storm water drain Trainee Inspector Sivuyile Kilwa has once again been lauded by the Manenberg community following a dramatic early morning rescue of an emaciated 5-month-old puppy stuck in a storm water drain in Duinefontein Road Manenberg.
The drain had two heavy cast iron covers chained together and the puppy was cowering amongst a pile of litter in the back corner of the drain making the rescue trickier than usual.
He strongly suspects that someone dumped the puppy in the drain as the gap in the grid and sidewalk is too narrow for him to have accidently fallen in.
But this did not deter Sivuyile, who quickly devised a plan to get the puppy out safely at the expense of his trousers that split clean down the middle as he stretched and strained to haul the puppy to safety.
It appears as though the puppy spent a good few days stuck in the drain without food and water until his desperate yelps were heard by a passing learner from Silver stream School of Skills, who immediately reported his concern to his teacher who in turn contacted our Operations Coordinator Shannon-Lee Beukes for help.
The puppy, since named Jasper (by a wonderful father-and-daughter volunteer duo from the UK who have expressed a keen interest in adopting him), is responding well to treatment for biliary, has regained his appetite and mischievous personality, and looks set to accompany the family on their flight back to England in the near future.
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CHAPTER 11
In The Company Of Best Friends Mike Vietri, the CEO of Faircape Property Group, joined our esteemed panel of ambassadors on 17 March 2021. Upon acceptance of office Mike had this to say: “I am looking forward to promoting the vision and helping the wonderful people involved in the Animal Welfare Society. On a daily basis staff are involved in the really difficult and stressful task of looking after those that have no voice. We salute you and whatever we can do to make your task easier to alleviate animal suffering will be a pleasure”. It is a well-known fact that Mike’s selfless contributions have bettered the lives of thousands of animals and prevented countless litters of unwanted puppies and kittens from being born into lives of hardship. He and his team are without exception animal welfare heroes who recognises the undeniable benefits of the companionship and unconditional love of a pet. His visionary leadership has placed the Faircape Property Group in a sought-after league as one of only a very few pet friendly retirement estates. As further evidence of their compassion for animals and wanting the best for their residents and patients, Faircape recently introduced an Animal-Assisted Therapy and Companionship Initiative of which we are very proud to be a part. Over the past year we got to make loads of new friends and spend quality time with some of the residents of Faircape property group's magnificent, pet friendly Cle Du Cap, Tokai Health and Onrus Manor estates. These visits have become a firm favourite on our busy events calendar and have proved to
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be so mutually beneficial that we decided to make them a permanent monthly outing on the last Thursday of every month. "Some of the residents refer to our canine companions as "dog-tors" that bring them an abundance of joy and comfort and for us this is the ultimate validation that canine care therapy is undeniably good for everyone as well as our dogs who lap up the attention and spoils" said Allan Perrins spokesman for AWS SA. The residents and carers take great delight in meeting, cuddling and when presented with the opportunity naming the pets that accompany us on these enjoyable outings. We have also had the privilege of hosting several residents and staff at our facility in Philippi. They without exception enjoyed the visit and abundance of hairy hugs and muddy pawprints. “You can see everyone’s faces light-up when they get chosen as the lap to cuddle up on or, tummy to tickle. They love the interaction and opportunity to converse, reminisce and pet the animals” says Animal Care Centre Supervisor Lawrence Nkotha. We are extremely proud to be a part of a community who joins forces for the love of animals, and wish to offer our continued support for this amazing initiative that has brought so much joy and happiness to so many people and so many pets.
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CHAPTER 12
Sharing is caring Several months ago a couple of our selfless volunteers set off to help the cats and dogs living in the impoverished informal settlement under Lansdowne bridge. Their Mission: To feed and signup every pet for sterilisation. Their Motivation: Compassion for pets and people.
Do you love animals and want to make a difference? Have you ever considered doing some volunteering? Yes? Then we have some fantastic and rewarding volunteer opportunities available at our HQ in Philippi. What are you waiting for? Call Lawrence on (021) 692 2626 or e mail admin@awscape. org.za to find out more.
For the love of animals
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CHAPTER 13
Back to the wild During February, which is always a busy month with loads of exotic patients, we were handed a gigantic Leopard Tortoise. He was foolishly picked up in Beaufort West by an unwitting motorist whilst trying to cross the road and unlawfully transported to Cape Town. We undertook to care for the tortoise until permission for his release back into the wild could be obtained. Permission was eventually granted for the tortoise to be repatriated to the Karoo National Park on the outskirts of Beaufort West. On Saturday, 11 March, Senior Inspector Mark Levendal undertook the roundtrip and oversaw his successful release. This rescue mission as you can imagine cost a small fortune but was worth every cent. We simply could not have imagined him living the rest of his life in captivity or having to needlessly euthanase this beautiful animal and are hoping that you will help us spread
the message that tortoises should be left alone and undisturbed unless necessary. South Africa, and in particular the Cape, has the richest diversity of tortoises in the world. Of the 40 species of tortoises known, South Africa has 12 species and 2 sub-species. They are all protected by law and may not be killed, captured or kept in captivity (without a permit) and the only reason to ever pick one up would be to move it out of harm’s way. If picked up, the tortoise should be released as near as possible to the place it was located.
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CHAPTER 14
Plucked to safety Since the beginning of the year we have rescued, rehabilitated and released an interesting array of wild animals. A little while ago we rescued a beautiful Swamphen, discovered in the barren backyard of a New Crossroads property. They are usually found in reed beds, marshes and flooded grasslands and it is a mystery how the Swamphen ended up on the property which is quite a distance from their preferred habitat.
CHAPTER 15
Dog lovers unite to find and save Simba
The Swamphen was initially unable to fly and quite weak, but after spending a short while recuperating in our hospital was transferred to an expert avian rehabilitator for continued treatment and subsequently released back into the wild. Earlier this year Zintle, who lives in Samora Machel, reached out to the Cape Town Lost and Found Dogs & Cats community for help in finding her beloved missing dog Simba. Her desperate plea resonated with animal lovers across the Cape Metro who unhesitatingly rallied to her aid. Thanks to the wonderful response from hundreds, if not thousands, of strangers Simba was quickly found. When we heard the exciting news that he had been found, but was in need of urgent medical attention, our hospital and inspectorate teams quickly sprang into action. We attended to Simba’s injuries and whilst in our care took the opportunity to sterilise, vaccinate and microchip him before reuniting him with a very grateful and relieved Zintle. Zintle joined us in expressing heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed towards the rescue and recovery of her best friend.
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CHAPTER 16
Shot Sheep Saved During March a pet Dorper ram from Highlands Estate Philippi managed to escape his solitary backyard confines. During his shortlived freedom he headbutted a passer-by knocking her to the ground. When news of the harmless incident reached an intolerant neighbour he became enraged and decided that he was going to kill the sheep. He went to the owner’s house armed with a gun loaded with deadly hollow-point bullets and shot the sheep in the face at point blank range, shattering the sheep’s jaw and several teeth before storming off. Shortly after the shooting incident we went to collect the injured sheep. His owner ini tially consented to surrendering him but shortly after admission demanded his return so that they could slaughter him for the table. We successfully stood our ground and continued with treatment of the gunshot wound, placing the sheep on a course of powerful analgesics and anti-biotics. Not long thereafter “our sheep” (Lambert) was observed grazing, drinking and thankfully ruminating without any obvious issues.
Unfortunately the owner refused to pursue the shooter in favour of financial compensation, leaving us to ensure justice and to find a caring forever home for the sheep. According to Allan Perrins spokesman for AWS SA “Dorper sheep are usually eventempered and only headbutt to assert their dominance. Being a prey species their only defence is to flee and we suspect that because he was very likely hand-raised and never got to enjoy the companionship of other sheep he may have instinctively perceived the person as a trespasser or legitimate competition". In our opinion there was absolutely zero justification for the deliberate, unlawful shooting of the sheep and discharge of a dangerous weapon in a residential area. The shooter represents a far greater danger to society than any sheep ever would and will face the full might of the law. Once he was fully recovered from his injuries, Lambert went on to join the resident flock of pet sheep at Silvermist Organic Wine Estate in Constantia.
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CHAPTER 17
Happy ending When we first met Happy he was very sad. Happy was “knocking on deaths door” until his owner decided to knock on our door to see if we could save him. It didn’t take us long to establish that Happy had been poisoned. The clock was ticking, and as Happy slipped in and out of consciousness our hospital team set about reversing the potentially deadly effects of the poison with miraculous results. After spending a brief period in hospital we had the pleasure of reuniting Happy with his happy owner who was full of praise for the
CHAPTER 18
3-legged tortoise fitted with Lego prosthetic
team and all grins and smiles to have her beloved dog back in her life. Going forward, Happy will sleep indoors and be confined to the safety of his loving home. Our newest exotic animal patient was an endangered 3-legged Parrot-Beaked (Padloper) tortoise with a missing left hind leg. She is an incredibly special tortoise as her species is sadly under huge pressure for its survival. We had to come up with a creative solution to save this wonderful little tortoise, which is endemic to South Africa, and after consulting with the experts we decided to fit her with a Lego-wheel leg prosthetic to help her maintain balance and get about. The prosthetic limb was professionally fitted by an experienced veterinarian who was confident that she would regain her mobility and that she would be able to lead a normal life. She has since been successfully released back into the wild where it is hoped she will continue to thrive and add to the species' dwindling numbers.
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CHAPTER 19
Every Day
Heroes
Nothing brings us greater joy than helping pet owners who are willing to go the extra mile for their pets such as these two friends who walked from one of the nearby informal settlements to have their cat and kitten sterilised. Their greatest fear was not whether or not they would arrive safely but whether or not we would turn them away because they had only managed to save R10 to put towards the cost of the operations. They heard that we will never turn any animal in need away because of affordability which is why they decided to seek our help so when they were told that just by them putting in the effort that was compensation enough for us they smiled from ear-to-ear.
Thankfully we were able to help them due to a recent generous donation from one of our UK based donors and hope that everyone with whom this beautiful story resonates makes a contribution towards our sterilisation projects so that we may continue to help more every day Heroes like these two boys who will always remember this day as one of the happiest of their lives.
CHAPTER 20
The Hen that cried fowl This is no folk tale! Cinderella was a hen living in forsaken circumstances that suddenly changed to remarkable fortune after meeting our resident Prince Charming, Jaque Le Roux. This feisty little Hen was attacked and bitten by a dog but somehow managed to escape and find her way to our Hospital where her wound was cleaned and sutured. She has recovered from the incident and her wound has healed nicely and we look forward to her next outpatient visit this Festive Season. PAWsome Stories 2023 | 23
CHAPTER 21
Larry Leaps To Recovery Larry, a 2-week-old lamb, was admitted with acute mobility issues. He was wobbly and unable to put any weight on his right front leg. After x-raying his legs we discovered that his right front leg was fractured and needed to be placed in a comfortable splint to mend properly. Larry has grown stronger by the day and graduated from wearing a splint to a sturdy bandage and is responding very well to supportive treatment.
CHAPTER 22
HADEDA RESCUE highlights the consequences of littering
Thanks to an alert Bishop Lavis resident, we were able to save the life of a distressed Hadeda found hanging upside down in a tall tree from a length of discarded twine wrapped tightly around one of the birds toes. The knot was so tight that it had cut off the blood supply to the toe which needed to be amputated. The Hadeda, who was kept in our ICU, res ponded very well to treatment and was soon released at a safe location close to where it was found in the hope that it will find its partner. The Hadeda is one of many animal entanglement patients treated over the recent past and we implore everyone to please discard of their litter responsibly.
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His owner was delighted that we were able to save Larry’s leg and was extremely happy to have Larry back home.
CHAPTER 23
Taking the STING out of the story
What started as an idyllic family outing almost ended in tragedy for the Visser family from Belville when their beloved dog Rex, an 8-month-old Jack Russel Cross, was stung by a potentially deadly scorpion. When Rex arrived at our Hospital he was frothing at the mouth and fighting for his life and it took every ounce of skill and determination to save him. After spending 3 nerve-racking days in our ICU we finally got to reunite Rex with his grateful family who were overcome with emotion when we handed Rex back to them. And just in case you were wondering, we also saved the scorpion who was released
back into the wild where it quickly scurried off and sought refuge under a nearby rock. According to Jaque Le Roux, who nursed Rex back to health, what contributed hugely to his recovery was his owners quick-thinking. Had they waited he would almost certainly have died. Being able to save Rex’s life was our duty and privilege and being able to release the scorpion back into the wild where he poses no threat to people and pets simply the right thing to do as all animals lives matter. If your pet is ever attacked by a wild animal no matter how big or small please do not delay getting them help.
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CHAPTER 24
HOORAY
for Hay Hay! Life with chickens is far from dull and if we include every single type of chicken breed, there are over 25 billion chickens on earth! They have become popular as pets in the Cape Metro and we have noticed that many families on the Cape Flats tend to favour them over other higher maintenance pets. We recently came to the rescue of a hen named Hay-Hay from Hanover Park who was almost devoured and mauled by a pair of hungry dogs. Thankfully she was plucked to safety and rushed to our Hospital where her bite wounds and other injuries were assessed and treated. Hay-Hay was initially quite subdued but after a few days in our care regained her strength,
CHAPTER 25
Living the life of
Riley
On Friday, 29 October, we took delivery of a very special gift of pet food from a very special young man named Riley who had celebrated his 12th birthday. Instead of gifts for himself, Riley asked family and friends to rather contribute towards his annual Causefor-Paws petfood drive aimed at benefitting the animals in our care. Thank you very, very much Riley!
26 | Animal Welfare Society of South Africa
plucky attitude and voice and let us know that she was ready to go home by laying an egg – a just reward for a job well done. Since her discharge, Hay-Hay has gone on to make a complete recovery and continues to be a source of joy to her family who were thrilled to have her back in their lives.
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CHAPTER 26
A hat-trick of achievements
Despite the mayhem on the roads during August that quite literally saw our brave Inspectors having to dodge bullets and bricks, we had a very busy week that started off with the rescue of an adventurous young cat that got stuck at the top of a very tall tree. This was newly qualified Inspector Julian van der Zandt's first rescue assignment and one that he will never forget. The rescue required a massive team effort involving our colleagues from Cape Town Fire and Rescue who dispatched a fire engine fitted with a long-reach boom and platform that needed to be fully extended before the cat could be plucked to safety.
The following day our nursing team were presented with the challenge of removing a huge piece of bone from a dogs throat. These are never easy or riskless procedures and it took every ounce of their skill to safely remove the chunk of bone that was preventing the poor dog from breathing, eating and drinking properly. Needless to say they were up to the task and managed to dislodge and remove the bone without causing the dog any additional distress or injury.
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Our National Women's Day Celebration on 9 August was made extra special by the unannounced arrival of a trio of intact female dogs brought in by their owners to be spayed. They wanted to set a good example and make a positive difference in the lives of their "ladies" and decided to start their journey towards a better life by having them sterilised. Getting them to us was no easy feat and entailed a long walk from their informal dwellings in poverty-stricken Philippi East. As a token of our admiration for these young heroes, we gifted them our professional services and persuaded them to get rid of their dogs’ horrible chains. Their experience was transformational and such a happy one that they decided to become Community Animal Welfare Champions – determined to better the lives of many more of their communities pets.
PAWsome Stories 2023 | 29
CHAPTER 27
OUTsurance
goes the extra mile for animals At the 2023 OUTsurance Gun Run prize giv ing we were presented with a cheque for R126 676 that will once again be invested in our Pet Sterilisation and Outreach projects.
This outstanding collaboration and magnanimous generosity has already and will continue to positively impact the lives of hundreds of pets on the Cape Flats.
This brings the total contribution by OUT surance, the Atlantic Athletic Club and in dividual runners to just under a quarter of a million Rand since our selection as the race’s charity beneficiary last year.
We are extremely grateful to have earned the generous benevolence of such selfless partners and iconic brands and look forward to a continuation of this amazing partnership for many years to come.
30 | Animal Welfare Society of South Africa
PAWsome Stories 2023 | 31
CHAPTER 28
My journey to becoming an Animal Welfare Inspector My name is Julian van der Zandt and I form part of the inspectorate team at the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa (AWS SA). I have recently qualified as an Animal Welfare Inspector and this was my journey to achieve this. In December 2022, I graduated from the University of the Western Cape with a degree in Industrial Psychology. As every student knows, it is quite daunting to graduate and immediately find employment. I started the job search in January 2023 with little success. In February, however, Pam Hart, Chairperson of the AWS, granted me an opportunity to start volunteering. I grabbed this opportunity with both hands. The team at AWS was very kind and welcoming and I soon felt part of the team. After volunteering for a few weeks, I was informed that I would be shadowing the inspectors for 2 weeks to see if it was something I would be interested in. I immediately took to the inspectors’ mission and it was definitely something I considered worthy of making a career of. Shortly after the two-week shadow period, it was decided that I would be enrolled at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for their cadet program, which would include theory and practical work. The highlight of the cadet program was without a doubt accompanying the SPCA inspectors on their investigations. It was fascinating to see how diligent and compassionate they were, their attention to detail when investigating complaints and their willingness to put animals’ safety above their own. The ten weeks I spent there was such an eye opener in terms of the dangers inspectors face daily and gave me the inspiration to qualify so as to carry out the same mission.
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After successfully completing the cadet program I awaited the National Council of SPCA’s (NSPCA) entrance exam which would see me go to Johannesburg to write the inspectors exam. Before I could write the NSPCA exam, an opportunity at the Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) presented itself and would allow me to qualify at a much earlier time. It was decided that I would attend the one-week theory course and on the 7th day I would write the inspectorate exam. Without ever doubting, I passed the inspectorate exam very well and qualified in July 2023. The entire journey from volunteering to enrolling into the cadet program, was such an eye opener. Before AWS, I could never have imagined how many people there are in the fight against animal cruelty and the unwavering determination to help animals in need. One of the strong motivating factors to qualify was the potential I saw in AWS SA’s Inspectorate department and the amount of good we could do through expansion and development. I am very proud of the technology and equipment we have recently deployed in fighting animal cruelty and I look eagerly to the future of the AWS SA Inspectorate. I would like to thank Pam Hart and my father for offering me this amazing opportunity and believing in my abilities.
CHAPTER 29
Mandela Day The Animal Welfare Society of South Africa proudly emulates the values of Nelson Mandela – providing hope and help to its massive indigent constituency.
guests showed tell-tale signs of exuberant “hairy hugs” from our excited pack of dogs and puppies who got to enjoy great company, countless cuddles and heaps of treats.
Our theme for this year’s event was “for the love of animals” which presented a fantastic opportunity for everyone to get involved.
What we accomplished thanks to a fantastic turnout by a group of selfless individuals – who clearly understand the enormity of the difference 67 minutes can make to the lives of those less fortunate – together with their generous pledges of continued support can readily be measured by the enormity of their generosity and 101 wet noses and wagging tails.
Thanks to a magnificent response to our call to action by animal lovers from across the Cape Metro, enlightened local businesses, and a great team effort, we once again “knocked it out the park” and silenced the cynics who disbelievingly questioned the enormous amount of good associated with this engaging annual celebration that honours and marks Tata Madiba’s revered legacy. The rainy weather did nothing to dampen enthusiasm and by tea time all of our
The legendary Nelson Mandela would be very pleased with the good work AWS SA is doing and has done over the past 94 years and humbled by today’s fabulous turnout that represented a lot more than a mere 67 minute teambuilding exercise.
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CHAPTER 30
Happily Ever After During May we celebrated the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of two very special animals – Bobby, an abandoned donkey found in a near-death state on the side of the road in Highlands Estate Philippi and his stable companion Lambert, a gentle Dorper sheep senselessly shot in the face by an irate neighbour for being overly zealous. Their long road to recovery was made possible thanks to your support and a tremendous team effort involving our amazing colleagues from the Cart Horse Protection Association and Western Cape Department of Agriculture who we salute for their selfless contributions. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the Louw family for opening their hearts and magnificent home at Silvermist Organic Wine Estate to this deserving duo who have landed with their “bums in the butter”. According to an excited Gregory Louw Lambert has already made his acquaintance with the resident flock of pet sheep who warmly welcomed him into their woolly fold On Wednesday, 25 October, Bobby left Sil vermist Organic Wine Estate, where he was an 'only child', to join the resident herd of rescued donkeys at Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary in McGregor – and we could not be happier for him.
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He is 'hooves down' in the best possible place and loving the company of the other donkeys who galloped to meet and noisily greet the new arrival. Thanks to a remarkable team effort by so many of our friends and colleagues Bobby is home at last and can finally look forward to living a carefree life for donkeys years to come.
CHAPTER 31
Dancers Love Dogs SPOTLIGHT ON
Brigitte Reeve-Taylor, our remarkable Am bassador and world-famous animal activist, founded Dancers Love Dogs in 2012 following a chance encounter with a sick stray dog that she rescued and named Miles – who according to Brigitte “made Dancers Love Dogs a reality”. Since then Brigitte together with her supertalented cast and crew have raised over 4 million Rand and sponsored the sterilisation of over 20 000 animals. After a 3-year hiatus brought about by the pandemic we were overjoyed to receive the news that the Dancers Love Dogs team was making a spectacular comeback with several award worthy performances spread over 4 days during July at the Baxter theatre. What a privilege to have attended the phenomenal Gala Show that can only be described as a night to be remembered.
Every ticket sold paid for a sterilisation, and thanks to everyone’s support of this much anticipated dance extravaganza Brigitte and her team raised a magnificent R789 791 – enough to sponsor the cost of another 2 000 pet sterilisations and for that we as one of her grateful beneficiaries are endlessly thankful. If you missed this year's show then you simply have to attend next year and support this amazing cause. Brigitte to you and your cast of over 580 incredible dancers and wonderful team who united for sterilisation we would like to say congratulations and thank you for another show-stopping performance that will make an enormous difference to the lives of thousands of needy animals. We are truly blessed to have you on our team. Thank You!
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CHAPTER 32
Gentle hands, kind words and soft hearts
It does not matter if it’s midnight … on a Sunday … or public holiday – if a call comes in about an animal in distress, our Inspectors will respond. Because animals don’t know that it’s after-hours or a public holiday. They only know that they are in pain, terrified or lost … after suffering a beating, being abandoned or fleeing for their lives and need our help. Every second that passes feels like a lifetime! That’s why our Inspectors are committed to responding as quickly as they can to reports of animal cruelty and suffering. These dedicated Warriors work around-the-clock and don’t get much rest! And whilst the animals are always pleased to see them, the same can’t be said of their abusers and tormentors. That is why your support means so much. Knowing there are caring individuals like you, who would also never refuse to help an animal in need …. or be their voice motivates them to soldier on and provides them with the means to continue their life-saving work.
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Because it takes money to keep our vehicles on the road … ready to respond at a moment’s notice … it takes money to cover the care bills … and money to apprehend perpetrators. Your contributions have already made a huge positive difference. Thanks to you we have found loving homes for thousands of pets and released many wild animals back into the wild. And as long as there are animals in need, we will need money to rescue and care for them. So PLEASE will you donate towards their lifesaving work today? Animal Welfare Society of South Africa Nedbank Current Account Account Number: 114 822 258 8 Branch Code: 19 87 65 https://www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/ animalwelfaresocietyofsouthafrica It will make a real difference!
Thank you!
The 5 Freedoms of Animals
The 5 Freedoms are the Gold standard that we, as animal owners and carers, must understand and apply to ensure that the welfare of animals is provided for. These standards are internationally recognised and are not just about the things that we want to do for our animals, but also the actions we must take in order to be responsible and caring pet owners.
Freedom from hunger and thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour. Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area. Freedom from pain, injury or disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment. Freedom to express (most) normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind. Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment that avoid mental suffering. PAWsome Stories 2023 | 37
I t's a wrap!
Operational animal handling statistics from January to October 2023
Sterilisations 1 982
Hospital Procedures 2 544
Theatre Procedures 452
Orthopaedic Surgeries 99
Special Operations 315
In-patients 2 818
Consultations 8 768
Vaccinations 4 295
Microchips 2 105
Cruelty Cases 1 288
Unwanted dogs 192
Dogs adopted 123
Let’s keep making a difference!
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Legacy Leave a
This year 42% of our income came from bequests and you may be wondering how you can help animals when you no longer share their world. Right now, more animals than ever need our help. Too many animals are still suffering and dying and we don’t have enough money to rescue them all. Making a bequest to the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa is an uncomplicated way to continue to protect animals long into the future. Your Will is much more than a legal document. It is your opportunity to make a statement about your beliefs and values and to leave a lasting legacy that will make a lasting difference for animals. Bequests do not need to be large sums. Any amount can make a significant difference to our work and we are committed to respecting our testators wishes and honouring their legacy for the welfare of animals. Please call or email Allan Perrins on (021) 692 2626 or allanperrins@awscape.org.za to find out how to join our Legacy Society.
All donations, no matter how big or small, help us to continue to be the voice for the voiceless. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so to our fundraising account or via our SnapScan link. Alternatively, sign up for a monthly debit order: https://linkserv.emandate.co.za/AWSSA/ We always need donations of food, blankets and newspapers for our hospital patients.
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PAWsome Stories 2023 | 39
Head Office, Inspectorate, Hospital and Animal Care Centre 7 Papkuilsvlei Road, Philippi, 7781 P.O. Box 32057 Ottery 7808 021 692 2626
Banking details Standard Bank Current Account Account no: 072 863 196 Branch Code: 02 62 09 Swift Code: SBZA ZA JJ
Fundraising account
082 601 1761 admin@awscape.org.za Outside of the RSA: 0027 21 692 2626
Office hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 – 17:00 Weekends and Public Holidays: 8:00 – 14:00
Nedbank Current Account Account no: 114 822 258 8 Branch Code: 19 87 65 Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ
Follow us Animal Welfare Society of SA aws_southafrica
Clinic hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00 – 15:30 Weekends and Public Holidays: 8:00 – 12:00
aws_philippi www.awscape.org.za
Member of the World Federation for the Protection of Animals Ad Hoc Member of the Coalition of African Animal Welfare Organisations Member of the Cape Animal Welfare Forum Partners of For Good, the Do More Foundation and GlobalGiving NPO 003-037 • PBO 130001884 Accredited by the Western Cape Community Chest | UK Fund for Charities
40 | Animal Welfare Society of South Africa ★★★★★