A bucket of hope for Valley dogs
Volunteer, Melissa Schreiber, recounts the tireless work done by the outreach project, KZN Valley Dogs.
THREE pots of rice with bone meal gravy? – check.
One hundred bowls? – check.
Fifteen big bags of kibbles – check.
Cat food? – yes.
Donated kennels and blankets? – let’s go!
Sundays are for early mornings, loads of licks, muddy paw-stained clothes, wagging tails, howls and best of all, full tummies.
KZN Valley Dogs is made up of a group of dedicated animal lovers who come together every Sunday morning and feed about 500 pets (dogs, cats, and even some chickens) in the underprivileged community of KwaNgcolosi in the Inanda Valley.
It all started in 2015 with one man, Anthony Asher-Wood, a motorbike enthusiast, who would often head into this valley for a ride on his bike.
He saw the horrendous conditions of the animals and decided to do something about it.
He took a bag of dog food with him the next time he went and started with a handful of dogs.
Soon an old school friend, Carolyn Pierrot, joined him and the numbers have since grown to approximately 30 volunteers feeding hundreds of pets.
The number of volunteers and hungry dogs keep growing and we have had to split our route into three to cover more area and shorten the time.
We have built relationships with the pet’s owners too, teaching them about the husbandry of their animals.
We are always encouraging them not to tie their animals up, to keep fresh water nearby, to feed them, how to touch and hold them and teach them that they have feelings too.
Our interaction with the animals has really rubbed off on the community, especially the children who join us on our routes and help dish out bowls of food.
We aren’t here to create miracles, we do what we can and we love it.
We rely solely on public donations. Kennels, bowls, reflective collars, blankets and any other items are given to the most needy homes.
Pets are also sterilised when funds allow for it.
The change in weight, coat, and overall personalities of these animals is a wonder in itself.
Previously walking bags of bones are now beautiful bouncing bodies who enjoy a load of love along with the food. We are convinced the animals count the sleeps on their toes until we visit again.
