Farewell 2014!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015 Woodrock will be doing a monthly newsletter updating our very valued followers on the progress and updates on our beautiful piece of heaven!  We have the most wonderful facilities, our standards are very high! Offering the very best opportunity for our animals in our care! Our staff are well trained and dedicated. The regular volunteers that come through to attend to the rehabilitation work, together with our staff, are a truly remarkable team!  Woodrock is almost completely funded directly by its founders. Over the last year we have had great support from our followers providing very welcome and much needed financial relief. We are very grateful to all of you who continue to support us! We are almost constantly repairing fencing, doors, handles and equipment.  The administration behind the scenes keeps us extremely busy! At Woodrock we are always brain storming and initiating unique ways to upgrade and improve the lives of our residents! We know we have set ourselves a high bar, particularly given that our founders work full-time to fund and support Woodrock.  Reflecting back over this year, we have achieved a great deal and are extremely proud of this! This year has been filled with memorable highs and (as life throws us curve balls) there have been many lows.  Our greatest achievement in 2014 has to be without a doubt being chosen to appear on SA heros! Woodrock together with SARAC felt extremely honored to receive a nomination of this magnitude! To work with 2 remarkable directors with the likes of Dominique and Geoff made it easy!  We continued to do our outreaches every 2 months. At these outreach programs Woodrock enforces our policy of educating the uninformed and upholding our sterilization "rampage".  Woodrock are in an area where one has to travel for medical attention. A day doesn't go by where a neighbor drives up the driveway needing attention. This will also advocate and uphold our greatest mission of all ... To sterilize!  Over the year we have sterilized hundreds of animals. Our rehoming of dogs, in our opinion was a struggle, owing to the fact that puppies are more in demand as opposed to adult dogs! WoodRock’s strength is to rescue rehabilitate and then rehome, which involves predominantly senior dogs.  We have continued to assist shelters who are less fortunate than ourselves and relish in their victories!  We continue to feed our neighbours pigs 3 times a week. Woodrock shares donations with other animal charities, and all the received help and donations that are not used by us, are paid forward and used to help others. Our book sales came to a halt, but we will be back in January! Mandela day was a great feat. Woodrock started a soccer team in the valley. With the help of amazing associate rescue groups, Boston terrier and supporters! We kitted (all 34 of them) with toggs!  In the spirit of upliftment, Woodrock donated a bicycle and riding gear to a wonderful older man, which understands our plight and mission and continues to feed the dogs and see to their needs in the valley.  As always "The show must go on!" We can never have a slow "off-day"! Woodrock tries, against all that life presents us with, to eradicate any form of cruelty!  The goat basher case was bitter sweet! Woodrock and Sarac put all efforts into having the perpetrator convicted. The costs financially were immense.  In all of this madness, sadness, apathy, desperation, heart-ache and soul searching, Woodrock has and always will fly the flag high for those that are unable to speak up for themselves! We will continue to be there for them!  We look forward to an Epic 2015!  Our much needed hydro pool will be launched in January!  In February we hope to start our funky cattery! So...watch this space!!  A project which is very close to the founders’ hearts is also commencing next year!  Our memory walk will be a dignified beautiful maze. Offering a quiet walk to visitors reflecting on the lost lives of their fur babies that have passed. In their memory we are hoping that visitors will leave a footprint in good faith, needed for the voiceless, homeless animals in our care.  Woodrock promises to uphold our motto "Acta non Verba" taking action not just talking about intentions, we do it!!

CONTACT US Addreess: Plot 51, on the R511 between Fourways and Hartbeespoort  Lat/Long: S 25 ° 50.114' E 027 ° 58.502' Lat/Long Decimal: -25.835271,27.974938 Contact: 076 155 4439 - 084 585 2418 Email address: woodrockanimalrescue@gmail.com stella@woodrock.co Our satellite drop off branch is located at  43 Lincoln Street Woodmead Sandton.  Banking details: Woodrock Dog Rescue Standard Bank Rivonia Account number: 425 369 161 Savings Account Branch code: 001255 Swift code (international):SBZAZAJJ

I alone can't change the world

I can't change the world. 

If we know better we do better. Trying so hard to educate the human race. This past week we saw the passing of a great lady. Maya Angelou. Her philosophy stands very true in rescue. Her simple way of doing the best we know how is so true. This larger than life lady had simple messages. A great lady and a great poet. 
 

And then this makes it all worthwhile!

As the administrator of WAR, we receive loads of emails daily.

These include surrenders, dinations and occasionally adoptions!

Very rarely does one such email warm my heart and prove that people are yood but then at a low point this week- we received the following:

"To whom it may concern

I am interested in adopting a dog, but a Golden Oldie no younger than 8 years. 

The dog has to be meduim to small, be able to live as a single pet, but social.

Do you have any Lovelies that meet the above?

Looking forward to your response.

 

Kind regards

Claire"

Thank you so much Claire for considering an oldie! You make rescue worthwhile and you Woodrock!

Thank you FNB for this wonderful write up

https://blog.fnb.co.za/2014/05/speaking-up-for-others-can-help/

Abandoned, abused and neglected animals are an all too common occurrence in South Africa.  With thousands of animals in dire situations, Woodrock Animal Sanctuary is doing their best to help. Based in Gauteng, 150 homeless dogs call the sanctuary home. They actively work to rehabilitate and re-home animals.

Another cornerstone of the initiative is an educational programme which aims to teach people about responsible pet ownership. Regular sterilisation drives are carried out, which aims to stem the breeding problem, as Estelle Meldau explains: “There are just too many unwanted animals out there. The only way to stop this, is to make sure that as many animals as possible are sterilised – we aim for about 10 each month.”

There are many success stories to share. “Woodrock went on a call during a storm to find 3 new born fluff balls. There was no mum in sight. We bottle fed the babies. One of our team members went back to the river and hunted for 2 days to find their mother – thankfully we did.”

On another occasion, Woodrock was called out to assist a hit-and-run case. “We have so many of these cases, but the one that stands out is dog called Rupert. His back leg was snapped in 2 with the bone exposed – it was dry and an infection had set in. After months of intense medical attention Rupert’s leg had healed and he has been successfully re-homed to a loving family.”

Estelle explains why she decided to help: “Woodrock started as a childhood dream of both my husband and I – we understand the needs of orphaned animals. We are both passionate about helping those that cannot speak for themselves.”

In the future, they would like to build a memory walk, graveyard and doggie splash pool and they would love to employ the services of a full-time vet.

If you would like to donate towards sterilisations, SMS “dog” to 40733 and donate R10.

This is Estelle’s story of help. To find out how you can help:

Estelle Meldau – Gauteng

tel: 076 155 4439

email: stella@woodrock.co.

web: www.woodrockanimalrescue.blogspot.com

#YouCanHelp

The sustaining bread and butter of rescue

I love the story of the chicken who ate the bread that she baked all by herself

The story goes

Mommy chicken found wheat and asked the duck, cat and dog to help her grind the wheat. She asked them to mix the flour into doe.she pleaded with them to roll the doe. She urged them to light the fire ect
All the while all 3 refused and mommy chicken replied to their refusals. Then I shall do it myself and so she did
The bread was baked and ready to eat. 

She invited the duck cat and dog to help her eat the bread. 

Very enthusiastically all three jumped for joy and were willing to eat the bread
Mommy chicken replied" oh no I am going to eat it myself"

It makes me think of animal rescuerers who
Rescue in dark late hours 
In unsafe circumstances
We nurture the dog
We get their confidence and trust
Are the animals constant care givers
See their eyes
Witness their pain
Get let down time and time again by humans

At the end of the day the reward and love received from my furbabies are mine and mine alone because I did it myself. 

All my love 

Stella

One bad thing will out weigh a million good

I was blessed with a wonderful mother in law who left me with some great values and ..... Here's one that I encounter daily

Leaving NZ, I was reflecting on highs and lows of rescue

Immediately three horrible stories jumped to mind over the million good ones

I could pacify myself  - by reminding myself that by throwing each starfish back it affects that one life ,yes,yet it doesn't make it easier.

I could bore you with details but it's the same horror in different forms.Do a million good but that one bad deed will cripple all the good.

So for my daughter who managed to run the shelter and co ordinate all the hardship rescues are dealt with, I know how hard it was. 

And in spite of all the hard one and for you the ones you had to turn away For me the good outshines any negative and daddy and I thank you for everything you did for Woodrock while we were away.

Allow the good to shine through 

http://showme.co.za/pretoria/lifestyle/woodrock-animal-rescue-heroes/

A boy riding a quad bike from a farm close to Woodrock Animal Rescue told Fiona and Noel how a big cat was killing his chickens. Fiona and Noel inquired about the big cat, which turned out to be a lynx and advised the young man to set a trap for the lynx but not to kill it.

By: Letlhognolo Ndhlovu

Fiona suggested that once captured, they should take the wild cat to a wildlife animal centre in Johannesburg. “We don’t kill any animals here, when Noel finds snakes on the hill he takes them to the lake,” emphasised Fiona, the kennel manager. That is the kind of warm energy you take in at Woodrock Animal Rescue on a farm surrounded by mountains in Hennops Rivier Valley, Centurion.

Woodrock Animal Rescue is a non-profit organisation that is a home for abused, stray, neglected, homeless, and old animals. Woodrock Animal Rescue has an amazing record of re-homing animals through an intense adoption process that ensures that the sterilized, de-wormed and vaccinated Woodrock dogs or felines leave the rescue centre to live the rest of their lives happy in a good home with good people.

Woodrock  Animal Rescue is well equipped with a dedicated team of animal lovers, eco- friendly equipment like their borehole system that help run the centre and it is spacious enough for all the animals to roam freely.

 …while the animals are alive they need to be treated with dignity

Through their township project, Woodrock supports dogs in these communities with kennels, blankets, dog food, spaying and neutering. The animal rescue centre works hard to educate the masses about the importance of pet sterilization and how to be responsible pet owners. “We teach people not to hit the animals, to respect animals and that while the animals are alive they need to be treated with dignity,” said Lola Meldaus, the daughter of the founders of Woodrock Animal Centre, Nicholas and Estella Medaus.

As a non profit organisation that has been running for the past 13 years, Woodrock relies mostly on funding from selling donated books at markets; their top notch Kennel services; donated food, money; and extra helping hands from volunteers.

The Animal Protection Act No. 71 of 1962 is not enough to protect animals against abuse. Woodrock Animal Rescue rehabilitates animals with a sad past to give them a chance to live, that simple.

The sound of the hundred and something barking dogs while taking a tour up the hill to visit the cats echoed the entire farm. How lovely it is to know that there are change makers who go the extra mile for our furry friends.

If you would like to contribute with whatever means to Woodrock Animal Rescue, go to woodrockanimalrescue.org.za or their blog on www.woodrockanimalrescue.blogspot.com for more information on how you can help or adopt a dog. Also visit the Woodrock Facebook page to view profiles of the animals seeking a loving home.

---

 

 

 

UFO-Unidentified FURRY objects.

Hello all you beautiful Woodrockers! 

Can you believe it is the end of March already!? As the weather is chilling down- Woodrock are starting to collect supplies for our Winter outreach. Our outreach includes donation of blankets, food and supplies to the surrounding impoverished communities in Johannesburg- people and animals. We find this is beneficial in that it further strengthens the trust Woodrock has established in these communities and individuals are more likely to sterilize, assist in correct animal treatment education presentations, report abuse and become the Acta Non Verba we so often speak of.

If you would like to help:

Banking details

Woodrock Dog Rescue

Standard Bank Rivonia

Account number: 425 369 161

Business Checque Account

Branch code: 001255

Swift code:SBZAZAJJ

Or

Our satellite drop off branch is located at 43 Lincoln Street Woodmead Sandton. These premises are sponsored by Chartered Appointments and they are able to co ordinate and store any donations that are dropped off there.

Anyway this week I had a very humorous epiphany dawn on me! I have an unnatural love for really bad sci-fi and horror movies and I often have to indulge in these extracurricular viewing activities in my own time as no one electively has the same movie taste as me!

So whilst I was undercover viewing a particularly awful ScI Fi film recently About Aliens and alien abduction, it occurred to me that should I be of a higher intelligence and not of this planet- i would need inconspicuous spies to report on activity!

This higher intel would easily be picked up through a series of intricate technology and higher intelligence found in no better place than our loyal hound or feline friends! Ive wondered why Lavender's ears have such dexterity and all the clues lead to the fact that she is working for a high end sector of extraterrestrials! Oh my little worm- she is of a higher place- as are all furry friends!

So i think this would be her real identity....

 What do you think your furry friends true under over identity is? I would love to hear from you- woodrockanimalrescue@gmail.com

Until next week

Lola

Making a change. Making a difference. Acta Non Verba.

At Woodrock when dealing with our social media and online presence, we generally like to keep things upbeat as to encourage positivity in place of horror.

Once in a while we do think it is vital to illustrate the true Acta Non Verba spirit that we practise on a day to day basis.

On Tuesday Woodrock's patriarch Nicholas and Jerry from our little sister charity SARAC (see last years blog) inspected a number of locations that have been reported for various reasons.

A member of the public alerted Woodrock to a shocking story of the sale of domestic animal meat in The East of Johannesburg. Thanks to photographic proof, our inspectors were able to issue a warning (there was no feline meat present at the time of inspection).

A neglected African Grey was also spotted and a warning was issued in regards to its living conditions.

The second complaint was a visit to an attack/security dog training facility where large breed dogs are trained in attack and defense techniques. Although the facilities were adequate, a stern talking to was given to the director of the facility in regards to responsible animal ownership. They will be visited on a regular basis.

On a more positive note- a Pet store in the south of Johannesburg was visited and have improved and maintained there standard. Although we do not condone the trade or sale of any living creature, it is only through education and guidance that a change can be made.

To help us continue the work we do

Banking details

Woodrock Dog Rescue

Standard Bank Rivonia

Account number: 425 369 161

Business Checque Account

Branch code: 001255

Swift code:SBZAZAJJ

Home time- "The most exciting part of holiday!"

I still have sand in my shoes. The smell of suntan lotion is still lingering on my skin- I'm basking in the afterglow of a glorious holiday- well I should be at least! But sadly no.

Instead my relaxation induced holiday has resulted in me being overwrought with anticipation and more importantly excitement! Yes- today I was reunited with my baby Lavender! I wasn't gone for long and she loves spending time with Granny but there is no greater feeling than when i hear the jingle of her bell and the tiny patter of paws running towards Mommy!

This moment reassures me that pets are much nicer than people. They are LOYAL and always excited to see you and don't ask questions-just LOVE. 

I would also like to take this moment to wish Stella a Happy Birthday for next week and urge her try and enjoy her much needed Trip! Guaranteed there will be many happy tails waiting for your return but enjoy it while you can!

Just take a moment to smile!

Sometimes content I come across online can hit the right note for the tone of Sunday blog!

I found this incredibly sweet to end off a very busy Woodrock month so far full of functions, furry friends and family!

Send to someone who makes you smile!

Until next week

Lola

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ailbhemalone/incredibly-sweet-messages-to-dogs-from-their-owners 

Oh and of course a feel good picture! This one is of Vesper being escorted on back around the farm this weekend because the rainy weather has hindered her use of her wheels due to mud!

Oh no cadbury- not again!!

One of the most memorable quotes I can recall relating to the subject of animals was once said to me by None other than Woodrock's Mama- Stella. 

As any child (furry or other) i wondered as to who her favorite resident dog was? 

Her response was instantaneous. 

"The one that I am looking at or touching at that moment."

So in light of this, Woodrock's blind boy Cadbury has featured strongly on the top of the lists lately due to his naughtiness and making a spectacle of himself! His weakness for pillow stuffing reached an all time high with him destroying three innocent cushions this week!

It's these small quirks that make us love them all the more! Have a beautiful week!

Pls see evidence below!

Lola

Woodrock- a home away from home where lifelong friends meet

Long term boarding can be an immensely straining time. Responsible animal owners often see benefit from removing their loved animal from traumatic moves and or stressful life situations. Woodrock whole heartedly support this and we at any point in time have one or two long term boarders amongst our ranks.

Maaitjie is one such dog, a charismatic yet misunderstood Jack Russel. In his normal environment Maaitjie is a solo dog in his home and is doted on by his family- although Woodrock is a home away from home when he arrived he was shocked and took a long time to acclimate to his surroundings showing aggression and aloofness as a result. 

Woodrock's team knew they had to act quickly in his acclimation process and so he was paired with another slightly misunderstood dog called Jamie! Two boys, same breed and similar temperaments was a risk but after a supervised introduction these two just clicked and hit it off! For the extended period we looked after Maaitjie- him and Jamie were inseparable. The bond formed was so strong that the one would no longer go on out walks without the other even when Maaitjie's owner came for a visit.

Fast forward 6 months and what started with the arrival of a loner independent alpha dog has concluded with Maaitjie and his new friend Jamie going home TOGETHER to their new stable environment. 

Boarding with Woodrock Kennels is supporting change you can see. The equal love care and devotion to every dog within our care from boarder to rescue often has surprising results. 

So to Maaitjie's very special family- thank you for not giving up on your baby even when life was tough and thank you for opening your home and opting to adopt!

Do you remember me?!

As most of you know my boyfriend Sean aka Lavender's daddy returned from overseas. 

The whole Meldau clan was really as to whether the munchkin would remember her daddy after a year... This is what Sean had to say....

Today a story from someone different. 

You have probably heard a lot from Lavender's mom, but I am her Dad and I have been in the UK for the past year. I arrived back this time last week with fear and trepidation that my child would have forgotten me. I climbed up to my room ladened with bags and gingerly opened the door. I was greeted by the the little monkey face of my puppy who stared at me with a blank glaze to her eyes. Then I saw recognition blaze across her visage and the flood of joy and excitement spilling from that tiny dog was truly breath taking! What ensued was a twenty minutes bout of kisses, cuddles, playful nips and plenty of grunts and snorts. I could not have asked for a better welcome back from my girls!

The waiting game

Life as we know it

By Stella

You get up organize the house

And your dog waits for you

You make calls and plan your day

And your dog waits for you

You race around make food for the family

And your dog waits for you

You rush out to keep deadlines attending meetings

And your dog waits for you

You get the children from school and get them to sports

And your dog waits for you

You rush home to start dinner

And your dog waits for you

You sit down ready to watch a tv programme

And...

The hop-along hound herd!

We unfortunately live in a society that is plagued with lack of education, finances and opportunity and this often tends to make us feel like the under dogs. The one's who are always hobbling behind. As a rescue group, we focus on resolution in place of blame. We also believe in giving every animal as much of an opportunity as possible.

Woodrock is a shelter that focuses on the less fortunate dogs. We tend to have dogs with issues and disabilities. My observation is that the dogs that have the easiest times are the physically disabled dogs. The nervous agressive and emotionally damaged dogs in my opinion have a far more difficult time fitting in than a dog with a physical disability. 

I am referring to Woodrock's very own amputee's. It happens that because we do outreach work,ie going into the townships where money and education in animal care is sorely lacking. It is here that dogs live miserable lives with broken limbs that become lame due to lack of care.

Hence I firmly believe that these dogs who are picked up by do-gooders and are in such pain tend to act out. Unfortunately these animals are given three possible options 1) death 2)bone reconstruction or repair or 3)amputation. Over the last year we have had numerous legless wonders come through our doors and we have made a striking observation- That dogs with 3 legs do not feel hindered.Once they have been repaired or have had their limb removed they shine. Their whole personality changes and they become our jewels. 

Three legged dogs or physically disabled dogs are special. They race around and teach the damaged dog the joys of life! We learn from them more than we can begin to say!

So if you are a special person who is looking for a special guy in your life why not adopt one of our three legged angels?

Chip n Dip!

Woodrock had such fun on Saturday at our super successful Chip and Dip day held to raise funds for "Daschunds in need in South Africa"

A huge thank you to all those who helped out, participated and had an enjoyable day with us!! 

Much love 

Woodrock

Addicted to rescue

For those of you who have had the pleasure of meeting my mother you know that her life is hectic. She is forever on the move with two cellphones, an ipad and a dog in hand at any point in time. She has unfortunately been struck down with the flu today!

So in order to get her to stay in bed today I asked her to write a piece for our blog about her addiction to rescue and her intense workaholism! So here it is! Ps please hound her to recover and stay in bed!!

The love for an animal can get out of hand at your first rescue. The euphoria and excitement of saving a dog is effervescent and contagious. However, in my personal opinion, the rescuer needs to be a certain type of person. One needs to be level headed, have the ability to make rational judgements , work with the reward if successes and not spend too much time beating yourself up for the failures and for the dogs who fall through the system.

Rescue is not for the faint hearted. It is all consuming and can definitely become addictive. Some signs that you have a problem are the following:

1) waking up at 3 am to check Facebook.

2) recalling your rescue dogs names before your own children's

3) always having to answer ones phone!

Having said all if this, i can honestly say that once the bug has bitten it is very difficult to return to the mundane mediocrity of daily life! The challenge and the reward are interwoven and I love making the difference I can even if it means feeling terribly guilty to lie in bed instead of making a rescue dog's bed....

Vespa's voyage!

Stella's story.

Vespa came into my life  around September of 2013. The day I met her I knew this girl was special. She has this happy bouncy demeanour and has no idea that she is actually disabled. The first thing I noticed was that she wants to take part in everything- including catching flies- she just hates flies!!!  

Vespa's mom rescued her from the SPCA a beautiful healthy girl. About a year ago Stacy ,Vespa s mom got home from work and noticed that Vespa was struggling to walk and she looked uncomfortable and sore. After a while she took Vespa to a vet who referred her to a specialist. Within days Vespa had a back op..........

With this kind of injury time is our enemy, every minute counts. The sooner that dog gets onto the table the greater the chance that the animal will repair and walk normally. 

Vespa is not one of the lucky ones. She has never been able to use her back legs again. Ironically her name describes her movements. She scoots around dragging her back hind quarters. 

Stacy really did everything in her power to get Vespa to walk. Vespa spent Mondays to Fridays at a physiotherapist who worked tirelessly to improve her ability to walk.On the weekends Vespa went home with Stacy. Vespa loves people and needs to be monitored. With Stacy working all day and getting in late from work she realised that this was the best she could offer Vespa 

I just fell in love with this darling and knew that woodrock was the better option. At Woodrock there is constant supervision and medical attention if need be. Vespa really enjoys the company of other dogs and can socialize in a safe and monitored environment.

Vespa's future looks bright. She will be able to get her much needed wheels and be able to take part in daily life at woodrock with our Woodrockers. 

I want to thank Stacy for opting to adopt and doing the very best for Vespa. You have not failed her. It was a brave of you to surrender her to Woodrock. For this we commend you.

Please follow Vespa's story of recovery and repair and how she copes when she is on wheels!

To help:

Banking details

Woodrock Dog Rescue

Standard Bank Rivonia

Account number: 425 369 161

Business Checque Account

Branch code: 001255

Swift code:SBZAZAJJ