With the launch of Woodrock’s sterilisation clinic on 12 May, Woodrock Animal Rescue’s Nicholas Meldau spoke about how the idea to build a clinic came about.
According to him, the idea of the clinic began after discovering the terrible living conditions for puppies at the Roodewal Kennels which was eventually shut-down. “This was the tenuous efforts of Schnauzer Friends South Africa’s Deborah Blane and her team rescued who many schnauzers from the mill which triggered talks among Debrah and Woodrock Animal Rescue to provide a facility to help cater and aid puppies in the community,” he said.
Meldau explained that the many months of hard work and tenacity finally paid off, and the dream of having a sterilisation clinic has become a reality after much effort and fundraising.
“At the launch, we wanted to showcase the clinic to those who were instrumental in helping us reach the R1-million mark, even though it was an empty clinic, without equipment or materials,” he said.
Meldau admitted that it was discouraging when they initially only managed to raise R50 000 of the R850 000 needed to buy equipment at the time of the launch. “Fortunately, on the morning before the launch, we received a call from CSI manager for My School My Village My Planet, Helene Brand, who informed us that an amount of R500 000 had been awarded to Woodrock to buy equipment for the clinic.”
Brand commented that the animal rescue facility has been part of the MySchool programme for many years and has proven to be a much-loved organisation that also delivered best practice when it came to animal rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing.
“In the past, we had to set up a portable sterilisation station at our various outreach programmes, which was a modest table under a gazebo, on which we would sterilise as many as 50 animals at a time. Many of the animals were infested with ticks and fleas or had an ailment that needed additional medical attention,” Meldau said.
He added that now they will be able to sterilise animals at their clinic, particularly those from informal settlements. “Community members need to always be mindful of the importance of sterilisation and education. If we know better, we do better.”
Filler: What more can the community do for animals in the area? Share your views on the Fourways Review Facebook page
