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PEOPLE'S POST | CONSTANTIA | WYNBERG Tuesday, 12 March 2013
Stowaway dassie gets a free ride JUANITA WILLIAMS
A CUTE rock dassie with a lot of spunk decided to relocate from Barrydale to Plumstead. When the Badenhorst family drove back from their camping holiday in Warmwaterberg Spa, Barrydale, they had no idea a dassie had stowed away on board. Naomi Badenhorst says: “We noticed a little dassie hanging around our car at the camping site, but we had no idea we had a furry passenger on board during the ride home. “The only place he could have hidden in the car was near the exhaust box. We also found dassie droppings around the battery.” The intrepid dassie is now running around the Badenhorst’s property enjoying his new life and avoiding the SPCA Wildlife Unit’s attempts to trap him. Badenhorst says: “We didn’t notice the dassie until the next day. I was in the kitchen with a friend, when she spotted a small dassie in our driveway. He disappeared under the car and, when my husband opened the bonnet, the dassie was sitting near the engine.” The dassie seems very happy in his new home. He eats grass and nibbles on the cactus and plants the family brought back from Barrydale. Badenhorst notified the SPCA Wild Life section, who installed a cage in her garage in an attempt to trap the little dassie. “They put some peanut butter in the cage
MAN’S BEST FRIEND: Pasella presenter, Vicky Davis and bass guitarist and musician, Schalk Joubert with their pooches. PHOTO: CARINA ROUX
Time to go walkies
IT’S that time of the year again when man and his best friend lace up the takkies and leashes for the annual SPCA Purina Woefie Wandel. People’s Post and its sister publication, TygerBurger, are the print media sponsors for the event. This year thousands of people and their pooches will descend on the D’Aria Wine Estate in Durbanville on Sunday 24 March. Walkers and their dogs will go um, walkies, on a 4km scenic route through the vineyards. Both owners and their pets can relax and shop before and after the walk. There will also be fun giveaways, lucky draws and competitions. You can also buy the latest in pooch products at the SPCA Vetshop and Purina activation stands. You can also win cash from Husky when you present your till slip at the Woefie Wandel. Adding flair to the day’s festivities, actress and presenter Vicky Davis – from Pasella fame – will be MC for the day. “I cannot imagine my life without pets and my dogs bring so much love and enjoyment to my life,” she says. “The Woefie Wandel is a great opportunity for owners to spend time with their beloved canine friends and spoil them with a day out, while at the same time
SUBURBAN BLISS: This young rock dassie from Barrydale hitched a ride to Plumstead. PHOTO: GAVIN LAWSON
to tempt the dassie inside, but so far he hasn’t shown any interest in it,” she says. The family and neighbours are having a great time watching the antics of the cheeky dassie, who comes out of hiding about 08:30 to have a green breakfast. “He keeps an eye on us and is very aware of his surroundings. We think he is a youngster, because he is so small,” she said. The SPCA plans to release the dassie back into the wild – once they catch him. Meanwhile he is enjoying a spot of suburban bliss in a Plumstead garden.
raising funds to help the SPCA.” The SPCA also cautions owners of short-nose breeds, such as bulldogs and pugs and those with older dogs experiencing joint problems, to consult their vet before committing to take part in the walk. “Puppies under four-months-old are not permitted to participate, while owners of large breed dogs 18 months or younger, should also consider walking a shorter distance, which will be indicated along the route,” says SPCA events coordinator, Juan August. Water and cool-off points for both dogs and owners will be available along the routes. Entry forms are available at local vets, the SPCA in Grassy Park and SPCA Vetshop in Plumstead. Enter by email, fax, post or online at www.spca-ct.co.za, before 17:00 on Friday 22 March and qualify for a discounted entry fee of R35 (owner) and R25 (dog). Entries on the day of the event will be open from 07:00 until 08:45 at a cost of R40 (owner) and R30 (dog). Children in prams enter free. V For more information on the SPCA, its work and projects and the Woefie Wandel, visit www.spcact.co.za. Alternatively phone the SPCA on 0 (021) 700 4141.
Donate and save a life today LAILA MAJIET
I
N ORDER to meet the demand for blood in the country, the South African National Blood Service must collect 3 000 units of blood a day. An average of 700 units of blood is needed every 24 hours to meet the demand for blood in this province alone. However, while one unit of blood can save up to three lives, less than 1% of eligible South Africans are regular blood donors. People are being encouraged to donate blood and help save a life. The Western Province Blood Transfusion Service’s Marlize Mouton says that even in 2013, with all the technology available to us, blood cannot be artificially manufactured. “Therefore we rely on the support of our voluntary blood donors,” she explains. Although 75% of the Western Cape population will need a blood transfusion during their lifetime, a mere 1.5% donate blood, Mouton says. The blood donor agency has basic donor criteria. You must be between 16 and 65 years old, weigh more than 50kgs, be in good health, live a safe sexual lifestyle and be committed to helping save lives. Donating blood has its benefits, Mouton says. “Every time you donate blood, you receive a ‘mini-medical’. Your iron, pulse, blood pressure and general health is checked before you donate blood.” However, she says more importantly is the benefit of knowing you have had an impact on saving someone’s life. Donating blood is a simple. “It is of utmost importance that you eat a substantial meal three to four hours before donating blood. Drink lots of water or
juice on the day of donation and take it easy with exercise for that day,” Mouton advises. She says blood donated is rarely used in its donated state. “It is only used in its original state in cases of replacing massive blood loss in trauma emergencies. Mostly blood is divided into blood products, including red cells, plasma and platelets.” Red cells are used in the treatment of anaemia and bleeding after trauma surgery. Plasma is used to treat burn wounds, bleeding disorders, to restore blood volume and to provide antibodies. Platelets are used to treat leukaemia, in bone marrow transplants and low platelet count. To become a donor, visit www.wpblood.org.za, or a mobile clinic. The service has mobile units visiting various venues throughout the province each day of the week. “Our clinic teams visit various libraries, community centres, churches, educational institutions, businesses, factories and shopping malls,” Mouton says. The clinic schedule can be viewed on www.wpblood.org.za. The service also has two fixed sites. People may visit 22 Long Street from Monday to Friday between 8:30 and 15:45. Alternatively, visit the N1 City Mall in Goodwood to donate. The donor clinic at the mall is open all week. They operate from 10:00 until 17:45 during the week, from 09:00 until 14:45 on a Saturday and from 09:00 until 11:45 on Sundays and public holidays. For further details call 0 (021) 507 6300, SMS “Blood” to 33507 or email 2 info@wpbts.org.za.