HEROES FOR ANIMALS
Five young boys from Philippi set a shining example after they found a distressed dog in some bushes and walked for kilometres to take it to a safe place. The boys found the nearest Animal Welfare Society of SA shelter and took the Labrador, which they named Champ, to its premises. Animal Welfare said in a Facebook post: “They looked as though they had just crossed the finish line of a marathon and won first prize as they excitedly took turns proudly explaining that they had found the dog lying in the bushes. The kids went into great detail about the ingenious plan they hatched to help rescue him.” Jacaranda FM’s Breakfast presenter Martin Bester spoke to Jacques le Roux, the nurse who assisted the boys with the dog at Animal Welfare and gave them R1 000 each towards their education. Le Roux said: “This act has a lot to do with the upbringing of each child. The parents definitely play a vital role by showing compassion towards animals, which is then passed on to their children.” He said he got goosebumps when he saw the boys genuinely loved the dog. He said the boys’ actions “serve as an eye opener because it shows how a child under the age of 12 can make a difference”. The boys will also be awarded certificates from the society. Bester said: “I believe that children love being around animals, especially if that is how they are educated or brought up by the adults around them. The more kind and compassionate children are towards pets, the more it will play a role in making them great adults.” If the public would like to make any form of donation, please visit awscape.org.za
EDITOR’S NOTE As my daughter Kimaya bleated relentlessly about wanting a puppy, I chorused even louder that two children, running a home, a high-pressured job and everything else in between was more than enough for me. I was not going to take on the responsibility of a pet. Fast forward three years… I cannot remember life without my darling English cocker spaniel, Toby, and Lord knows, my heart won’t let me think of life without him. Toby is not my pet, he is my child, in every sense of the word. And, I’m certain, many ardent lovers of animals feel the same way. In times of sadness, I can feel his soulful, brown eyes reaching deep into my heart as he moves in close to ensure I feel safe. In times of joy, his big floppy spaniel ears tell a story of a child, running free, sharing in the happiness of the family he so loves. Then there’s his primordial wolf howl at the sound of the passing ice cream truck – bringing home what a baby he really is. Gets him every time. Today, IOL Lifestyle launches Pet Magazine to celebrate the four-legged babies who own our hearts. In this inaugural issue we look at pet health and nutrition – from vegetarian diets for pets to the most wonderful recipes from a new cookbook for dogs, to pet-friendly restaurants across the country. We even share tips on dining with your pets. We also look at how the coronavirus pandemic has affected animals. Lockdown resulted in a rush to buy pets for the sheer pleasure of their company and a flood of returns to animal shelters because many people could no longer afford to care for their pets. However, there was light at the end of the tunnel as South Africans rallied to the call from shelters and signed up as foster carers. The Animal Welfare Society Stellenbosch had all its 115 dogs and 20 cats placed in homes. We would love to hear about your pets. Send your stories, pictures and videos to nelandri.narianan@inl.co.za. Your pet could feature in our next issue. We also want to hear about heroes for animals, a regular feature celebrating those going the extra mile for animals. We’re all barking mad about our fur babies over here.
Nelandri
