The wonderful, fulfilling world of animal rescue is often tainted by some soul destroying events. On Sunday, whilst I manned Woodrock head office, Stella, Nicholas, Fiona as well as numerous Woodrock staff members and volunteers joined forces with SARAC to attend an outreach. 15 hours later, I was met with two pale faced parents who were in a deeply sad state. I have asked Stella to recount her experience on the day and this is what she had to say.
"Stepping out our comfort zone and reaching out to those less fortunate is our NPO's mission.
On Sunday the 17 th Nov,we left home at 6am all kitted out with dip vacs deflee deworming and a team of 15 dedicated woodrockers.
We drove for 2 hours through detours as the 94.7 cycle challenge race had blocked high ways and straight routes.
SARAc and Woodrock immediately attended to the task on hand. For the most part in retrospect we achieved our goals.
We were faced with challenges and our instincts kicked in. We were faced numerous awful events. A dog tied up with thin wire so tight that the poor animal's oesophagus has been severed and her collar bones broken.We immediately took her in and now Libby has been receiving medical care.
The puppies were brought out in drones for treatment. Jerry from SARAC felt it nessary to find the family with all these puppies and enquire as to why they had so many puppies and what they planned to do with them. He arrived and our team was instructed us to remove all females. We left the township feeling like we had played devils advocate as to who gets a life of possibilities and who will be left in the informal, impoverished settlements to survive.
Some residents volunteered to surrender dogs. Suddenly realising the burden of caring for animals was harder than they thought. Especially under the conditions they live in facing the challenges of real living.
Ali the dog that just stares into space is the child that haunts me most. She has been sexually abused and has no expectations of the human. When I approach her she simply looks ahead. This darling has 2 puppies. There was no hesitation as to us removing her. We made no excuses or apologies we were taking her and that was that..
On approaching the last settlement a lady walked straight up to us and handed us 3 starving babies. Their mom had been killed on the road the day before and they were so dehydrated. Ali took them in and her mother instincts kicked in. She is a testament to the animal world. Inspire of the horrors of her life she was able to save these starving screaming puppies.
We saw dogs with broken bones ,kittens with sniffles and animals confined to dark locked up shacks with no water or food temping around in muck.
This experience makes you cry it makes you lose all regard for man. Lack of education lack of money lack of facilities has created horrors unimaginable.
Will I return to continue our plight. Hell yes... We simply have to try. To bury our heads and think rescue is limited to rehoming the damaged neglected dog and pretty puppies...There is a lot more out there including neglect and abuse on other domestic animals like chickens, goats and pigs."
Thanks Stella,
I will leave you with this final thought. People are inherently good and will do better when they know better thus Woodrock are set on educating the masses and fixing the problem early on.
Don't hate- EdUCaTe!
To help us help them SMS " dog" to 38954
Banking details
Woodrock Dog Rescue
Standard Bank Rivonia
Account number: 425 369 161
Business Checque Account
Branch code: 001255
Swift code:SBZAZAJJ
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