VEREENIGING. – 50 Shades of Spay, a small local community-based animal spay and neuter fund, has done it again.
The last few months of 2023 had seen many animals in need being assisted by this one-woman-driven ‘vehicle.’
50 Shades of Spay was started in 2014 to assist people with sterilising their animals to alleviate the influx of unwanted puppies and kittens in the community.
Throughout the years, it has morphed and taken a different shape as the need for animal care started including people care too.
Where the need manifested itself in the local community is where the call was answered.
Unfortunately, the funding has not always been abundantly available, and especially towards the end of last year, things were looking rather dire.
In the recent months, dogs had been admitted with severe biliary amongst other things, and they needed to be hospitalised; blood transfusions were given, and the costs just escalated.
Owners either promised to make good on their promises and didn’t, or others simply couldn’t afford to take their animals to the vet.
Whilst trying to manage the calls for assistance and also pay the vet, Yvette Wilde, the ‘Mother’ of 50 Shades, came up with a plan to settle the bill and start the year with a clean slate.
She contacted some of the local business people that always support her efforts and asked for a prize to be donated towards a lucky draw.
This initiative was well supported, and the total prize money came to a whopping R23 000. Through social media, she encouraged everybody to donate to the vet account, which would then give them one ticket into the draw for every R200 donated.
50 Shades does not have a bank account, and Yvette does not accept any cash donations, but paying a donation into the vet account is always highly appreciated.
From there, the funds are then used to assist animals in the community. In addition to the R200 into the vet account, Yvette also encouraged people to donate a large bag of dog or cat food, and for every bag donated, a ticket would be allocated to the person who so kindly supported the animals.
One of the donated prizes came from the local AVBOB manager at Vereeniging, Francois Haslehurst.
Francois and AVBOB have supported 50 Shades of Spay in the past, donating a trailer to the outreach cause after the previous trailer had been stolen.
They have also supported the cause by donating dog and cat food on a monthly basis. When Francois phoned and offered a R3 000 tombstone to raise funds, she was not sure at first how to handle the donation.
The solution presented itself. Yvette put all the names of the people who so kindly donated towards the animals during the Christmas month, doing a lucky draw.
The lucky winner was Tommie van Deventer, who donated 2x20kg bags of dog food just before Christmas. And it was meant to be.
Tommie, a father of two girls, who now lives in Witbank, lost his mother when he was 12. The years passed, and he, now a father himself, often thought that he would love to put a tombstone on his late mother’s grave.
He had already managed to trace the plot number of her grave; he intended to save money and finally give his mother’s resting place a fitting stone with her name on it.
The phone call from Yvette was met with silence and disbelief, then sincere gratefulness. Tears flowed on both sides as both parties couldn’t believe the happy outcome.
Francois, the AVBOB Vereeniging manager, was contacted with the good news, and they immediately started the proceedings.
AVBOB sent staff to Jacobskop, the cemetery situated on Old Vereeniging Road towards De Deur the next day.
They located the grave, and although it was overgrown, they quickly cleaned the area. Tommie was given a choice of headstones, the wording was decided upon, and although most businesses were still closed, Rio Grafstene immediately put their skilled staff to work.
Team AVBOB has arranged the unveiling ceremony, and Tommie’s mom now finally has a name on her grave.
“This tombstone found Tommie because it was meant to be,” says Yvette.
“Thank you to Francois Haslehurst and the AVBOB Vereeniging team, Rio Grafstene and their dedicated team.
“Thank you to Tommie for lending a helping paw to those who need help and in return he was also helped. “
Keep donating… you never know what the universe will reward you with,” concludes Yvette.
