"K 1...2...3... Shimmy shake!,"

There is a very precise skill that every dog rescuer or avid volunteer learns very early on in the rescue process. It's not avoiding dog &@$" in the dark or turning a deaf ear to incessant barking or shrugging off their ill behavioral skills in social environments... It's not even subtly ignoring the inappropriate humping in public or blaming the hair on the furniture on the local neighborhood cat. 

No the skill that animal rescuers in general have to acquire and master very early on is parallel to the karate kid- mr Miyagi- wax on- wax off level of importance. It is the staggered bass tone we associate with Tom cruise in "Mission Impossible".

I am talking about the very crafty skill of closing doors. Yes, generally an easy ,care free task-  in rescue the closing of a door/gate becomes a very intricate, pre planned affair

It involves a number of  precise steps:

Step 1 is  the art of distraction. Usually the throwing of a treat and/or toy to the opposite corner of the room.

Step 2 is the silent handle latch pull

Step 3 is probably the most important- the shimmy aka the art of turning ones body into a paper thin strip and getting up close and personal with door often having a snagged t shirt or scratched elbow as a result!

Step 4 is the humane "shove" whereby if the animal in question has out smarted you, your task is to gently yet definitely push them back into their space.

Finally step 5 involves much heavy breathing, a well deserved sip of water, an apology to the animal in question through the door and occasionally a concerned peek to ensure they are content. Unfortunately this often leads to the process having to start again.

An inexperienced first timer often has to deal with the ill effects of the whole ordeal going awry in which a frenzy of awkward running behind is juxtaposed with a chuffed, smiling, tongue lolling pooch ahead and a team of catchers poised ready to strike in a moderate squat- arm out stance in preparation of the entrapment.

Yes, we live in a compartmentalized chaos but we absolutely love it and wouldn't have it any other way.

"Stop clucking around?!"

My close friend Louise once told me about the phrase that "a chicken always knows". What I understood from this is that, regardless of what you do even in private someone always knows- even if it is only yourself.

I tend to use this phrase quite often but a few weeks ago I spent some time in the Woodrock Animal Rescue Fowl pen and I see particular literal truth in this phrase, I'll tell you why...

 As many of you know, Stella and Nicholas are pescaterians and have a particular fondness for domestic animals apart from dogs and cats- thus donkeys ( note earlier posts) and fowls such as chickens,geese, ducks and pigeons! The belief is that animals who are acclimated to human contact tend to be abused if they serve a purpose. 

We have all heard of battery chicken farms, debeaking and force feeding of ducks. Horror stories deluxe but as you all know in the rescue world you have to take each situation one at a time because to think of swimming an ocean will stop an individual from getting their hair wet.So currently Woodrock have a  large variety of birds totaling at approximately 30. We do not let the chickens have chicks so we get fresh eggs daily- lucky us!

They are plump with the most beautiful shiny feathers. Their little bodies possess large personalities but most importantly they are extremely aware of what is happening around them. Their curiosity ensures that they always know what is happening in the rest of the chicken pen and it really is true that birds of a feather flock together because although occupying the same habitat the fowls separate according to specific type.

There are clicks- pardon the pun! And their daily routine is very entertaining especially when the ducks and geese prepare for their morning bath in "Miss Molly" an unused old rowing boat.The flock of fowls wait patiently and take turns to bathe. They occasionally get upset if the bird in front takes to long and you can almost see a look of "stop clucking around!!" Emerge from their parted beaks.

It seems every animal at Woodrock has a larger then life personality- we are blessed to appreciate the beauty in these unassuming little lives.

The answer to all your questions...

So as you all know I have a very soft spot for Woodrock's blog followers so I have decided to use this forum in order to give you guys a first sneak peak at our surprise that we are launching on Monday!Woodrock Animal Rescue is funded primarily from Woodrock Kennels. Over the last two months we have been very excitedly working on a new corporate Identity and branding to link and define the Woodrock brand. So here it is….. 

Our designer the extremely talented Mariska Botha kept all of our ideas and briefings in mind when developing this identity but she has truly given it a remarkably sophisticated and desirable aesthetic using her own artistic flair.

To give a breakdown- Woodrock believe in Actions not words and for going into battle with a raised flag for all animals. Nicholas, the patriarch of Woodrock is represented through the bow representing the bearer of gifts and Stella the matriarch through the stars.

I would love to hear what everyone has to say about our new look and feel- we are very excited and always grateful for your support and feedback!!

Can I have a side of personality with that wag.

I'm sure many of you animal lovers out there anthropomorphize your pets and give them human emotions but my greatest anthropomorphic trait to impose upon Woodrock dogs and particularly my child Lavender is to speculate as to what type of voice they would have in human form.

Through observation, these are my findings so far...

Jenny, Stella's ginger shadow is a bolshy, charismatic troublemaker who is vocal and mischievious but then cowers away- fearful  innocence quivering in her tail at the sight of confrontation. She doesn't mean to be nasty, so we find it endearing and rather entertaining- added to this is the fact that she is very strangely proportioned looking like a Daschund trapped in a Labrador's body. I have a firm belief that if she were human Jenny would have a deep masculine female shotput athlete's voice. The slightly simple minded bravado juxtaposed with a wide mouth that spits as she talks.

Zaza, an elderly Girl who is in retirement at Woodrock would definitely be a foreigner. Someone of Mediterranean descent with a large bosom and drawn on mole. She has a very Julia Child toned melodic voice that she flaunts and intersperses with "daaaaarling".

Chummy, a real mutt mix would have a hyperactive 10 year old Afrikaans boy's voice. He would possibly have a lisp and definitely pick his nose as he spoke to you whilst ripping a thumb hole in his school jersey sleeve.

Cadbury, our blind chocolate box boy would be a nervous type British speaker. He would ditzy around and be very concerned with his walking cane and pocket watch. His true nature would really be revealed when he is confronted with his passion for squeak toys and a manic rambler appears.

Oumie one of our old girls would have the voice of an elderly farm wife. She would forget to put her top teeth in but still attempt to suck on a toffee.

Finally, Lavender would have a raspy Nursery school child's voice. She would pout and scrunch her forehead and ask me "why" when I tell her she can't eat the old chicken bones she finds in the brush when we are on our daily walk.

Our babies make my days at Woodrock so entertaining!

I would love to hear about what you think your dogs would sound like as humans or any other quirky traits they possess.

Until next week!

L

The frustration of being proud

This blog post may be taken in a negative light but I think it is essential to clarify a few things about Woodrock Animal Rescue. We have recently had an interview with a member of the media which portrayed Woodrock in a particularly misrepresented light.

Woodrock Animal Rescue are different because they are Nicholas and Estelle Meldau, two individuals who were brought up amongst much poverty and in charitable homing systems. They are proud above all else and find it very difficult to ask for support. I, L Meldau am there child and I have witnessed the hardship first hand that they experience on a day to day basis, so it is rather frustrating when people don't think they need financial support because they are able to financially support it without external help.

These proud people put every single cent they earn into their rescue. They work like any other person in full time jobs but go out of their way to help every animal they can as well as a a number of people which I will tell you about in another post.

Anyway the point of this blog is that Woodrock do need help. We are not these wealthy  sometime animal lovers that can have animals dumped on us as a permanent solution. We pride ourselves on the fact that our dogs don't have a time limit in which they have to find a home or be put down but all the more reason why we need sponsorship. We have been in the industry for a very long time and are not in it for the money but for the animals. Our adoption fees are reasonable and we do much rescue without the marketing rampage of many other centers.

Rant over

Take a stroll in my shoes

Growing up with animal nut parents, I have always been aware that there was a high likelihood of them possibly loving the pets more then their own children.

As the years have passed these suspicions have been reaffirmed with the formal establishment of Woodrock Animal Rescue. I must be grateful because they will never experience the concept of empty nest in fact I think they are all the more pleased to have gained more space for their hounds.

Being slightly older and hopefully slightly wiser, I have learnt to appreciate the tumult of a busy home especially when I visit the rescue centre at weekends. Many people ask me what it is like going to visit my parents at a farm that is dominated by dogs. My answer is generally quite positive and overall I love being there but there are obvious negative elements as well.

I don't mind the barking, it forms almost a constant buzz that you soon become accustomed to and it's generally only around meal and snack times. I don't mind getting pushed around by the larger dogs when they want to get into the kitchen or through the front door and I don't mind having a bevy of eyes follow my every move whilst making breakfast. What I do mind above anything else is that I have to constantly wear shoes!

Now I don't mind wearing shoes in fact I have a rather large selection , but when I visit the rescue I have to be very cautious about what choice of shoe I take. There is never a safe zone to walk. This is mostly due to the elderly dogs that my parents have an incredibly soft spot for. The geriatrics, do tend to be more accident prone. They also have the honor of sleeping in a heated passage downstairs. The very same passage that is outside my room. On any particular night visiting the toilet is a hardcore operation involving much manouevering and tip toeing to achieve relief! In Winter, the weather isn't the only frosty element!

Slippers are generally a decent choice when getting up in the middle of the night plus they are easy to machine wash but the downfall is that urine tends to seep in so I have crossed them off my list. For this reason, I have invested Ina number of waterproof shoes. I have developed a type of sick obsession with buying the cheapest and ugliest shoes available for this purpose so that i dont misplace them and no one else would want to wear them thus they are solely devoted to waste walking.They are awfully ugly but practicality has to be a step ahead so here are some pics of my new hideous shoes- I hope they give you something to laugh about.Oh once last thing- to add insult to injury they also make a squelch sound as I walk!

Oh well this comes with the territory of rescue I suppose. I would love to hear what lengths you have gone to for your animals. Email me at woodrockanimalrescue@gmail.com

Until then
L

Big sister- Little sister- we are all family...

Woodrock has a philosophy that one should live simply so others can simply live.For this reason, we believe in paying it forward whenever possible. Earlier this year Woodrock was approached by a soft spoken professional gentleman. Vincent humbly explained how his partner Jerry and himself had started a rescue shelter in Soweto called SARAC-( Soweto Animal Rescue and Advisory Centre) and appealed to Woodrock to assist them with supplies whenever able.

After an initial meeting and survey of their property Woodrock has kicked into action and raised a number of necessary supplies needed for SARAC including office furniture, dog kennels, fencing and most importantly food. A sort of big sister, little sister relationship has emerged and we are thrilled to be affiliated with such proactive individuals who choose to do their bit regardless of how little they have.

SARAC truly exemplify giving selflessly expecting nothing in return.

Here are a few pictures of our latest kennel delivery to their centre in preparation for Winter. The palpable excitement of the entire community inspires us to continue in rescue even when circumstances are against us.

SARAC ARE NOW ON FACEBOOK.

To help us continue to help them: beneficiary reference SARAC

Woodrock info:

Banking details
Woodrock Dog Rescue
Standard Bank Rivonia
Account number: 425 369 161
Savings account
Branch code: 001255

Facebook: Woodrock animal rescue
Instagram:woodrockanimalrescue
Blog:www.woodrockanimlarescue.blogspot.com
Contact: 0761554439
Email address:
woodrockanimalrescue@gmail.com
Stella@woodrock.co
SMS line : "dog" to 38954 R10
All proceeds go toward our sterilization drive and township feeding schemes.

Woodrock Animal Rescue physical address
Woodrock Animal Rescue, 51 R511 Hennops Rivier Valley
GPS : S 25 ° 50.114 E 27 ° 58.202

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.