Ontmoet vir Golda, die kanker-oorlewende hond

MBOMBELA – Die KANSA Bark For Life (BFL)-fondsinsameling vind Saterdag by Pro-Life Pet Rescue, Rehabilitation and Adoption Agency net buite die dorp plaas. Hoewel die projek poog om fondse vir Kansa in te samel, word ons viervoetige honde-vriende ook op hierdie dag vereer. (Lees meer oor die dag onder.)

Maar net soos ons honde-kinders ons bystaan, het hulle ook partykeer ‘n bietjie bystand en ondersteuning nodig. Golda die driejarige hond, wat al vir die afgelope twee jaar die gelubringer by BFL is, is ook ‘n kanker-oorlewende.

Sy was by die eerste en tweede BFL in Mbombela en het selfs al in die Suid-Afrikaanse weergawe van Cesar Milan se tydskrif verskyn. Golda se eienaars is ongelukkig uitstedig die naweek en sal nie hierdie jaar se BFL kan bywoon nie.

“Ons is nie seker watse hond Golda is nie, maar sy is mooi,” lag karin Erasmus van Pro-Life. “Sy is na een of ander politikus in Indië vernoem weens haar sterk persoonlikheid,” sê sy.

Golda is deur Erasmus self vanuit ‘n informele nedersetting in Sabie gered, waar sy glo aan ‘n baie kort tou vasgemaak was sonder water, kos of koelte. “Die eienaar het gesê die hond byt die kinders in die straat, en nadat ek aan hom verduidelik het dat die hond nie so kan lewe nie, het hy nonsjalant ingestem dat ek hom vat,” vertel sy.

Erasmus het haar veaarts toe geneem waar sy maar 7kg geweeg het. “Sy het baie oop kolle op haar pels gehad. Ons het gedink sy is rooibruin met ‘n dun stert.” Maar nadat sy gebad is, was dit duidelik dat Golda eintlik ‘n “blondie” is, en na ‘n maand het sy reeds 14kg geweeg en kon gaan vir sterilisasie en inentings.

“Sy was aanvanklik bang en skaam maar het in ‘n die ware Golda ontluik met ‘n dik pels en baie wollerige stert,” meen Erasmus. Maar omtrent twee weke na haar sterilisasie was daar komplikasies en toetse het bevestig dat Golda kanker het. Sy moes vir ses weke lank een keer per week veearts toe vir behandeling, en na haar sesde chemo het sy kankervry getoets.

Golda was vir bykans twee jaar ‘n inwoner van Pro-Life, waarna sy vroeër vanjaar deur ‘n paartjie van Hazyview aangeneem is, en lei nou ‘n normale en gesonde lewe.

• Pro-Life het ten alle tye ongeveer 130 honde en 30 tot 40 katte beskikbaar vir aanneming.

More about Bark for Life

First there was Relay for Life (RFL), and now there is Bark for Life (BFL). These are fund-raising events to support the mission of CANSA, and the Bark’s advantage: having fun while fund-raising with our best buddies – our dogs!

Our city can look forward to a two-for-one feel-good day as the event will be held at Pro-Life Pet Rescue, Rehabilitation and Adoption Agency on October 31 from 10:00 to 13:00. You have the option to bring your own dog or loan one to complete the 1,6-kilometre walk, honouring the life-long contributions of our four-legged caregivers.
Although there are not many canine caregivers or therapy-dog organisations in the Lowveld, the role pooches play in the lives of many terminally ill, mentally ill patients, cancer patients, and survivors is still significant.

While pet therapy is a guided interaction between an individual and a trained animal to help the patient reach a predetermined goal, many pet owners, regardless of their health status, benefit from their therapeutic effects physically and emotionally – even just by fulfilling the basic human need to touch.

What happens at a Bark for Life event?

Families and their dogs come together for a few hours during the day and complete a 1,6-kilometre walk.
• Top dog and dress-up contests
• Team and community fund-raising
• Music and food
• Special dog-guest demonstrations.

Who can participate?
The heart of the Bark for Life is the relationship between survivors and their canine companions. Every family, co-worker, friend or community member who has been close to a cancer experience and has a dog in their life, is invited to support CANSA by registering and raising funds through BFL.

 
Human and canine Bark participants find:
• The opportunity to share heartwarming experiences
• New support systems and hope for cancer survivors
• New caregiving relationships
• The opportunity to become an advocate for a cancer-free world by volunteering to grow Bark for Life
• Bark sponsorships that involve new businesses and services that cater to dog and pet products (dog trainers, veterinarians, groomers, breeders, and dog-rescue agencies are proud to support CANSA through BFL)
• National pet food and supply chains are proud to donate and participate
in the BFL.
How does Bark for Life benefit RFL and CANSA?
• Bark volunteers work with their RFL counterparts to promote both events. People are always looking for new ways to socialise with their dogs.
After the Bark for Life annual event, fun year-round canine fund-raising activities keep this audience engaged. There are many survivors who do not have family or friends but have canine caregivers. They may know about RFL, but are not comfortable attending. The BFL gives these cancer survivors a chance to participate and be empowered in the fight against cancer.

Rules
• We reserve the right to turn away canines that are a threat to the other participants
• One dog per person
• They must always be on a leash no longer than 1,8 metres
• Proof of up-to-date vaccinations required or up-to-date dog tags required
• Clean up after your pooches (please bring poop bags)
• Any female dogs on heat are not permitted
• Owners supervise them at all times.
Tickets
R50 per person and bring a donation of pet food per dog. Primary schoolchildren and younger are free of charge. Food and cold drinks will be for sale. Pre-purchase tickets at Unigrad College (34 Ferreira Street, Mbombela).
Pro-Life is situated on the R40 towards Barberton 14 kilometres outside the city at the Chimp Eden turn-off.

Enquires: Pippa Botha on 082-448-2405 or pippa@surepro.co.za. Alternatively contact Riaan Loubser on 082-559-1108 or riaan@unigradcollege.co.za.