Chloe’s Tribe
It is amazing how some days - no matter how long agoyou can remember every detail when something extraordinary happened. Think about it: Where were you when 9/11 happened?
Last year on 25 January, while at work, my husband heard a puppy crying out in terrible pain. Following the sound, he found two homeless men trying to feed a tiny puppy with all that they had. But every time they touched the dog, she cried out in pain. They claimed to have found her in a trash can and were unsure how to take care of her, so they handed her over.
She was clearly dehydrated and in a lot of pain - she couldn’t step onto her right front leg. We guessed that the right leg must have been hurting for a while, as the front left paw was significantly elongated from having to overcompensate. Who knows, maybe this was the reason why she was disposed of as trash…
The ladies at the office were amazing: They gave her water, bought food and took her to Rhino Park Veterinary Clinic for a thorough checkup, and to have her vaccinated. The Veterinarian predicted her to be a medium sized dog and estimated her to be between 8-10 weeks old. Thankfully, although infested with ticks, she tested negative for tick bite fever and also for parvo, but she was extremely underweight at only 2,8kg. She received pain medication for the sore
Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.
~ Dalai Lama
leg and a solution to rid her of all the goggos on the inside.
When we brought her home, the first item on the agenda was a bath. She looked a mess: Her eyes had little happiness in them, the tail would not wag and her ears hung. We bathed her to clean her up (and rid her of the smell….), she got a decent meal and then a soft bed.
We named her Chloe.
The next few days would determine if she was strong enough to survive this.
While we were at work, we took Chloe to a neighbour who would keep an eye on her during the day and within 2 days, her eyes had more life and her tail would start wagging. About 10 days later, her leg was better and she could walk on both legs equally, resulting in the elongated paw becoming normal again.
When she received her 3rd vaccination, it was time for her to attend puppy school at the Windhoek Dog Club. We both learned some valuable lessons at the class and soon Chloe was able to walk on a leash without pulling or barking at other dogs.
Her ears have in the meantime learned to stand up straight, but her hearing is selective. Most of the time her name is Chloe, but she also responds to “Hey!”, “Stop that!” and “No!” - when she feels like it.
It is the little things she does that show her appreciation, her thankfulness of the care she received. She is fierce, a protector and
a guardian now.
While she underwent a lot of trauma when she was still a puppy, she is not entirely healed from it and a residue will likely stay with her for a very long time - if not for every.
Chloe’s story is not an isolated incident.
Puppies are bred for a variety of reasons - in many cases, however, it is to make a quick buck, after seeing how much legitimate breeders charge for pups. Puppies are sold for
Let’s start the new year with a bang and celebrate Fizzy Fridays like never before!
Rooster & Co. Restaurant will be hosting a BOTTOMLESS Sparkling Wine with Live Entertainment.
You can look forward to the euphonious voice of Janelle Botha all the way from Swakopmund. Let your taste buds discover the delicious options on our menu and let our chefs blow you away with out-of-this-world cuisine.
Be part of the experience and book your table today:
Venue:
Rooster & Co. Restaurant
Fizzy Fridays
BOTTOMLESS Sparkling Wine
Date: Time:
Price:
27 January 2023
19h00
N$85.00 per person
An evening that should not be missed! See you there.
anything from N$400 to N$3,000+ under an array of promises: “Purebred Jack Russell for sale”, “Purebred Labrador puppies for sale”, with no further details.
For some odd reason, these backyard breeders find customers to buy these puppies, who then grow up to be a Jack Russell x Dachshund crossbreed or a Labrador x Shepherd x Golden Retriever with the possibility of a genetic condition that the breeder knew nothing about, before breeding their dogs.
Backyard breeding is a term used to describe irresponsible breeding of animals. Often this is due to ignorance or neglect where a dog or cat accidentally becomes pregnant because the owner has failed to have them spayed / neutered. In other cases animals are deliberately bred so they can be sold.
What distinguishes backyard breeders from responsible breeders are the standards that the breeder meets and whether there is a known demand for puppies before they are bred.
So what is the harm in backyard breeding? Well for starters, legitimate breeders
have years of experience and knowledge in raising their chosen breed. They have some working knowledge of genetics and are able to breed for desirable qualities while reducing unwanted traits. A legitimate breeder also has health records of multiple generations of dogs and can carefully screen for the possibility of serious genetic problems such as hip dysplasia.
A backyard breeder, on the other hand, usually only knows the history of their own dog and will make assumptions based on what they know. However, there may have been a genetic predisposition toward hip dysplasia in her
Size (mm): 650 (h) x 460 (l) x 460 (d) N$1,778.00 and Stain: N$302.00
Available with the following sealers: clear, white, oak and mahogany.
dog’s line that she is unaware of. Because backyard breeders lack information regarding the traits of previous generations, puppies often have health problems that can cost new owners thousands of dollars to deal with – or worse, temperament problems that lead to the dog being abandoned at a shelter or even euthanized.
Backyard breeders also produce litters without any thought as to where the pups will be placed – or whether there is even a demand for them.
Legitimate breeders, on the other hand, never produce a litter until potential buyers have been screened and a deposit has been paid to ensure that all of their puppies will go to appropriate homes. Most reputable breeders will also restrict breeding rights, asking buyers to sign a contract to ensure that they will not breed their pups, thus contributing to overpopulation or the production of litters that do not meet breed standards. Many will even offer a partial refund to
buyers who provide a spay/neuter certificate from their veterinarian.
So how can you ensure that you’re not dealing with a backyard breeder? Of course, I would always recommend that prospective dog owners adopt a dog or puppy from their local animal shelter – there are so many pets in need, waiting for their “forever homes”. However, if you have your heart set on purchasing your new pup from a breeder, keep the following tips in mind:
1. Reputable breeders do not place ads in newspapers or on the internet. Demand for a puppy from one of their litters is high and they will sell out before their dogs are even bred. Make a deposit early!
2. Ask why the puppy is available. Remember – reputable breeders do not breed their dogs until they have enough demand for a litter. However, occasionally a buyer may back out at the last minute, or a litter may be larger than expected.
3. Ask why the puppy is available. Remember – reputable breeders do not breed their dogs until they have enough demand for a litter. However, occasionally a buyer may back out at the last minute, or a litter may be larger than expected.
4. Ask how many litters are produced each year. Most reputable breeders will not produce more than one or two litters per year. A higher answer than that should raise warning flags.
5. How many different breeds does the breeder work with? It takes a lot of experience and training to become an expert in any breed. Some breeders may work with two similar breeds, but again, more than two breeds may indicate a backyard breeder or a puppy mill.
6. Ask what steps are taken to ensure the puppy is healthy. Backyard breeders will often provide the first set of shots and nothing more. A reputable breeder has health records for the parents, has taken the mother for ultrasounds, and will offer a health guarantee.
7. Finally, remember that a backyard breeder wants to make a sale, and a legitimate breeder wants to make the right sale. Don’t be put off by prescreening – this is a good sign.
If, for whatever reason you have a pet that you cannot keep, give them to a friend or someone who can offer them what they deserve; or you can take them to the SPCA. They have a box, where you can leave them anonymously - no questions asked. Every pet deserves a good home. We are eternally grateful for the men who rescued Chloe and gave her a fighting chance.
But if you have a choice, do not breed your pets just for a quick buck. An unspayed female dog can be responsible for over 12,000 offspring in 5-year period. Cats can be responsible for over 11,000 births in the same time.
Be a responsible pet owner; if you feel you need a purebred dog for a certain trait, source a reliable breeder. Otherwise, adopt - you can change a life!
“Before you get a dog, you can't quite imagine what living with one might be like; afterward, you can't imagine living any other way."
~ Caroline KnappFour broke and out of work drag queens have taken it upon themselves to manifest the life they want, by using the skills they have available as amateur female impersonators to entertain and make people smile while we are all trying to survive the start of the new year. Expect glamour, surprises and memorable musical moments that will have you singing along and dancing the night away.
Table bookings encouraged, please call 081 615 4075 to arrange for your group.
� 26th January
� @mynt_nightclub_windhoek
� Limited Pre-Sale Tickets available via MYNT’s @paytoday
� Dress Smart Casual
� Happy hour with bar specials
19:00 - 20:00
� Show Runs 20:00 - 21:30
� Party till midnight!
To support our local community, we offer locally owned businesses the opportunity to expand their reach by advertising in our weekly newsletter at affordable rates:
List your events on our events calendar - FREE OF CHARGE!
