This sad, yet beautiful story about Xena will touch many hearts. It also brings the realisation that the world needs more success stories like Xena’s.
The Africanis-cross breed has had a difficult start to her journey, but she has survived and is now ready to suffocate her new family with all of her love.
Animal Protection Network (APN) rescuer Di Hingley shared Xena’s story with the Alberton Record.
Xena’s battle
A Fox Security officer came across a very thin and sick dog in Liefde and Vrede in November 2022. Esmarie Kruger, a paramedic from Fox Security, arrived at the location and after seeing the dog she contacted Di.
“On my arrival, I noticed that this is close to one of the houses whose dogs we feed. I went to the owner to ask him about this pet, but he knew nothing,” said Di.
She checked the dog’s gums and realised that the pet was very ill. “I thought it could be either tick fever or an overload of worms.”
Di informed the man that she is taking the dog, thinking that the dog will not survive.
She took the pet to Paws in Motion Veterinary Clinic where Dr Michele Miller examined her. The furbaby had tick fever and her stomach was full of stones. She also had to undergo a blood transfusion.
“Pets normally eat rocks because they are hungry and the rocks give a sensation of a full tummy, but it is very dangerous and can cause blockages,” said Di.
Miller helped the dog to pass the stones naturally and her road to recovery began.
Esmarie, who is also involved with the APN, took the dog in her care and named her Xena.
Xena means warrior princess and Esmarie chose the specific name as she felt that it suited Xena’s battle to survive.
Looking for her forever home
It has been more than two months and Xena is doing incredibly well. Her recovery is completed and she is now ready to be placed in her new home. Xena is extremely well with other pets, especially cats.
“She is playing around and she is becoming a dog. She has a full tummy every day and she just loves all the attention she is getting. She loves a fuss,” said Di.
According to her, Xena is so beautiful and she is a good all-rounder. “She is only six months old and she still needs to grow.”
Those who are interested in adopting Xena may contact Di on 082 653 1815. Adoption fee is R1 185 which includes sterilisation, a microchip, one vaccination and deworming.
“We all need success stories like Xena’s,” said Di.
Facts about APN
• They rescue just about any animal. They are a jack of all trades.
• They do not only look after animals but also help people in need through the support they get during their jumble sales. They have supplied children with school stationery and school uniforms.
• APN even does challenging rescues, like rescuing animals stuck in drain pipes.
• In the middle of winter about two years ago APN didn’t hesitate to go out on a Sunday evening to rescue a miniature pinscher dog breed stuck in a drain pipe in Randhart. This dog is still alive and happy.
• APN has feeding schemes in Alberton suburbs and Thinasonke where they can help with any medical issues and sterilise and vaccinate as many pets as they can.
• Strict home checks are carried out before pets are rehomed. To date, more than 150 pets have been rehomed.
• APN, together with Brackendowns SAPS, have adopted Thinasonke settlement as their outreach programme.
They go out once a month to do welfare checks, feed and deworm as many animals as funds and food donations allow them. There are over 350 animals.
• APN has a wonderful partnership with all the vets in the area, namely, Brackenhurst Vet, Hennie Alberts Vet, Paws in Motion, Kibler Park Vet, Alberton Vet and New South Vet. Without the welfare rates and special care provided by all these vets, APN would not be able to do what they do.
• APN also runs a feeding scheme headed up by Di. There are over 550 animals in the Thinasonke informal settlement, which is approximately 1 200kg of food a month.
APN’S wishlist for 2023
• To have all their veterinary accounts in credit.
• Have enough food to feed all pets in their feeding scheme and those who are not.
• To have more foster and permanent homes for vulnerable and homeless pets.
• Spoiling pets with toys, blankets, leads, collars or anything to make them happy.
• Raise more funds through fundraisers.
• To educate the community about pets and how to care for them.
• Get more people involved with its monthly jumble sales.
A heartfelt thank you
The past and present directors and committee members of APN would like to thank the community for helping them raise over R1.5m since the inception of the NPC in March 2017.
APN relies on the generosity of the community at large for donations in form of funds, food, jumble sale items and time by their dedicated volunteers. Most of the monetary donations are used for medical assistance, sterilisations, vaccinations, deworming, chipping and other animal-related needs.
APN also has a team of dedicated volunteers that help in the outreach programme and with search and rescue operations.
If you would like any further information on their various projects or any other requirements, contact Zuerina Venter on 082 850 9842 or visit their website.
A vision of founder Zuerina is for APN to rescue, save and rehome unwanted and stray dogs, cats and other animals in need. APN operates in the greater Alberton community and assists wherever help is needed.
APN is not a shelter and is very thankful to their foster parents and shelters who give up their time and homes to help rehabilitate the rescued pets until a forever home is found.
Emergency numbers to keep on your fridge
In case of an emergency contact the following APN members:
• Di Hingley on 082 653 1815.
• Erika van Heerden on 083 442 2981.
• Petro Lottering on 082 929 9121.
