Food is welcome, but more needed

LYDENBURG – After the article in the Steelburger/Lydenburg News reporting on the dire straits in which Home 4 Paws was, the community stepped up and much needed dog food was supplied to the shelter.

The owner of the independent shelter, Ms Cathy Schutte, contacted the newspaper two weeks ago about its need for dog food. “I was afraid that I would have to close the shelter. I started phoning all the shelters in Nelspruit to find out how many dogs they would be able to take in should I have to close the doors of the safe home for these abandoned and abused dogs. None of them could take in more than four at a time. People even suggested euthanizing the dogs should we not make ends meet. I thought, how am I supposed to put down 45 dogs including puppies?”

Luckily for Schutte the community came to the rescue and supplied her with enough food to keep the shelter open. Although the shelter can now feed the dogs, it is a constant battle to be able to keep on providing all the adult dogs and pups with constant food.

“Dogs, just like us, have to eat every day. I am so grateful for the support. I hope that the community will still on a regular basis supply us with food.”

Schutte said she realised she needed the help from the community when she went to buy dog food and could only afford the cheapest 8kg bag. “It was then that I decided to contact the newspaper and maybe get some form of assistance from the community. The reaction was incredible.”

In the meantime Home 4 Paws also assisted Lydenburg Animal Protection Services and Rescue (Lapsar) with much needed food.

“We want to thank each and every one who assisted us with a bag of food and ask that they continue to support us. In that way we can be sure to help these abandoned and abused dogs.”

If anyone would still like to assist the shelter with food, contact Schutte on 082-462-5754.