UPDATES NEWS & PAGE 2: PLEASE TAKE NOTE: DISTEMPER OUTBREAK PAGE 3: SHOCKING! PAGE 4: ADOPTED ANIMAL OF THE MONTH &

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1 NEWS & UPDATES MARCH 2016 SPCA HAS CHANGED ITS BANKING DETAILS. The Garden Route SPCA has moved to Standard Bank so all of you generous SPCA supporters are urged to change your records as follows: GARDEN ROUTE SPCA Standard Bank Business Current account Branch code Account number: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE BANK DETAILS FOR APPEALS WE MAKE ON THE INTERNET OR FACEBOOK HAVE NOT CHANGED. PLEASE USE THIS ACCOUNT NUMBER WHEN RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP FROM 1ST APRIL. ONLY R100 PER YEAR OR R500 FOR A LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP PLUS GENEROUS DISCOUNTS FROM OUR SUPER SUPPORTERS SHOPS & BUSINESSES. THE NEW HAS OPENED NEXT DOOR TO THE OLD CLOTHING SHOP! IT IS SPACIOUS, COOL (TEMP. & AWESOMENESS FACTOR!!!) & HAS BARGAINS GALORE. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE SOON IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK IN THE SHOP (ALSO A COOL IDEA!) PLEASE CALL TANNIE BETTIE ON PAGE 2: PLEASE TAKE NOTE: DISTEMPER OUTBREAK PAGE 3: SHOCKING! PAGE 4: ADOPTED ANIMAL OF THE MONTH & PAGE 5: MOSSEL BAY CADETS & VOLUNTEERS PAGE 6: SHOPS, MY SCHOOL & GOLF DAY INFO PAGE 7: 2ND PART OF CAROL S ARTICLE PAGE 8: MOSSEL BAY SPCA TRIUMPHS!

2 DISTEMPER OUTBREAK IN THE GEORGE AND MOSSEL BAY AREA The Garden Route SPCA has received numerous cases of sick dogs which, when seen by our in -house Veterinarian, are diagnosed with Distemper. Some are in the beginning stage and some already in the final stage of this highly contagious viral disease. The virus, is spread through the air, and by direct or indirect (i.e. utensils, bedding) contact with an infected animal. It attacks the respiratory, urogenital, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. Dogs that are not vaccinated that come into any kind of contact with an infected animal carry a particularly high risk of contracting the disease. Please make sure that your dog s vaccinations are up to date. Please look out for the following symptoms: Fever Listlessness / tired Vomiting and diarrhoea Discharge from the eyes and nose Coughing Muscle tremors in the body and on the head neurological stage. Recently it was found that there is a new strain of the Distemper virus that causes aggressive symptoms, mainly neurological closely resembling Rabies symptoms. Please look out for these symptoms: Sudden aggressive behaviour / over friendly / change in personality Fear of water Fever Weakness Loss of appetite Seizures Paralysis of the throat and jaw muscles may follow, resulting in the well-known symptom of foaming at the mouth. Disorientation, un-coordination and staggering may occur, caused by paralysis of the hind legs. Should your dog have any of these symptoms, please take your dog to your Veterinarian immediately. Should you not be able to afford a Veterinarian, and be able to prove it, you can contact the Garden Route SPCA George or Mossel Bay branches for assistance. Costs for treatment will be according to income. George branch all hours Mossel Bay branch all hours Please report cases to your local SPCA or Animal Welfare should your dog be diagnosed with this disease. 2 SPCA HELPS ALBERTINIA WITH VACCINATIONS. On Saturday the 27th of February, Tinka Smal from Albertinia organised a fun dog show. She requested that SPCA Vet Nurse from Mossel Bay, Ilse Wyatt-Goodall, be part of this event. Ilse represented the SPCA Vet Room marvellously! She administered 25 life-saving dog vaccinations, 2 cat vaccinations and dewormed and dipped the dogs. The community was grateful that Ilse did the treatments and gave advice where needed. They have asked if she can come and visit again because it s difficult for them being so far from access to animal healthcare, and there is no vet in Albertinia. ILSE HELPS A PATIENT IN THE VET ROOM

3 CHAINED, STARVED AND BEING EATEN BY MAGGOTS FROM WITHIN THIS IS THE FACE OF A PET GIVEN AWAY FOR FREE 3 She had diarrhoea and the numerous maggots that infested the filthy skin on her back, were also inside her rectum and coming out of her anus. There were multiple pressure sores all over her extremely emaciated frame and her body condition was rated by our Vet as 1 out of 5 said Senior SPCA Inspector Salome Bruyns, This is the worst case of neglect and starvation I have seen in my 13 years at the Garden Route SPCA. The photos cannot explain how bad she was, she was just skin and bone. Tosca had a fighting spirit, but the call for help came in too late. The SPCA has regularly pleaded with the public NOT to give their unwanted pets to their staff or to anyone else. This case highlights quite clearly what can and often does happen to animals who are dumped on people who neither want them nor care for them. Sometimes people are willing to take an animal but not prepared to take the responsibility of caring for them. YOU NEVER KNOW!!!!! SPCA Inspector André Baartman attended to the call to the SPCA office, on Thursday the 18th of February, regarding a dog that was allegedly neglected and starved in Touwsranten outside Hoekwil. According to the complainant the owner was seldom home and the dog permanently chained at the back of the property. Inspector Baartman immediately went to the address. No-one was there but he found a STARVED Labrador female near death, shackled to her kennel. He was shocked at the condition of the dog, and noticed maggots coming out of her anus. He loaded the fragile dog into the SPCA bakkie. She could barely stand. He rushed back to the SPCA where Veterinarian Doctor Anesca Loots immediately treated her and put her on a drip. According to Dr Loots report, her body condition was extremely poor. Her coat was dull and she was obviously severely mistreated. Although Tosca received intensive treatment, she lost her fight for life three days later which upset the already distraught SPCA staff. Tosca was allegedly given away to someone who lived in Touwsranten by a Wilderness Heights resident. Tosca s new life was being chained to her kennel, starved to death, unable to search for food or water and lying in her own faeces with maggots eating her flesh. Can you imagine the pain she went through physically, as well as not understanding why she had been sent to such conditions? We implore the public, once again, not to give your pets to just anyone, including your staff. Despite the fact that we have pleaded with the public on numerous occasions, in the newspapers and on social media, not to give their animals away to free homes, it still happens often. Tosca had to endure so much suffering stated GR SPCA Manager Frieda Jansen van Rensburg. Who pays the price when people give their animals away? ALWAYS THE ANIMALS. Some people do this because they believe the SPCA will just put the animal down. This is absolutely untrue. We do our utmost to find them loving homes where they can be spared this type of abuse. We urge the public to report all animal cruelty to the SPCA. All complaints are dealt anonymously. A case of Animal cruelty has been opened and is under investigation concluded Inspector Bruyns. The reaction to this report on Facebook is enormous, and we would like to thank the public who donated food for her and money towards Tosca s treatment. This will be used to help other animals in memory of Tosca. DON T GIVE YOUR PETS AWAY, PLEASE.

4 4 Chance was adopted by much-loved SPCA Volunteer, Maria Patrick, on May 20 th He had been in the cattery for quite a while. While she was there she fell in love with another fluffy cat with big eyes so she adopted them both. Chance and the other adoptee who was already living with the Patricks, Charmink - a Chinchilla, fought when they were first living together but 2 sessions of timeout, a stern NO and a finger in his face soon put a stop to that! Now they are great friends but Chance still demands to be groomed by Charmink Dis musiek en komedie uit die boonste rakke! Die Bush Lapa gee 'n deel van die kaartjieverkope aan die Garden Route Dierebeskermingsvereniging (DBV). DIE JAKKALS EN LEO VERTONING - ONDERSTEUN DIE DBV TERWYL JY N SKREEUSNAAKSE SKOU GENIET BY DIE BUSH LAPA VRYDAG 11 MAART Die Jakkals en Leo-vertonings is een van die gewildste vertonings en aand na aand uitverkoop. Hulle kombinasie is uniek en bied vermaak vir die hele gesin. Liedjies wat hulle op hulle unieke manier vertolk sluit in Voshaarnooi, Jannie du Toit se 1978 treffer Liedjie vir Jou, 'n nuwe verwerking van Ave Maria in Engels en Italiaans, O Sole Mio (ala Pavarotti en Brian Adams), Frank Sinatra, 'n bietjie Elvis Presley, 'n bietjie Lucas Maree en natuurlik 'n Paar pikkewyne. KD Fourie, eienaar van die bekende funksieperseel, Herold's Bay Resort en die DBV, nooi die publiek uit na 'n onvergeetlike aand op 11 Maart. Enige belangstellende partye wat ook 'n bydrae wil maak kan gerus vir Joey Sellner van die DBV kontak by of KD Fourie by Kaartjies is beskikbaar by Herold's Bay Resort se hoofgebou (Down to Earth) en wissel vanaf R90 tot R150. Heerlike Bush Lapa-etes en kontantkroeg is beskikbaar. THANK YOU TO: *** Builder, André Swart who donated the material for the counter in the new reception area in Mossel Bay. *** Petro SA who donated plastic barrels to be converted into shelter for township animals. These will protect them from the cold wind, come wintertime. *** Stephan Grobler from Transform Electrical who surprised the Management Committee at their last meeting by arriving to install a ceiling fan in the meeting room. Acting on an enquiry by Committee member, Joey Sellner, Transform offered to donate the fan plus installation for the often hot and stuffy room. THANK YOU TRANSFORM!

5 SPCA CADETS CELEBRATED AT 1ST VOLUNTEER MEETING IN MOSSEL BAY FOR The SPCA would like to thank all of the enthusiastic volunteers who came to the meeting on Saturday the 13th of February at the Diaz Museum. Expecting about 30 volunteers, the SPCA staff were thrilled when around 50 turned up! The graduates of the 2015 SPCA Cadet class from Point High School were at the meeting to receive their hard-earned badges signifying that they completed the tough 9 week course in animal care with scores for theory and practical exams above 80%. The 2016 rookie candidates from Point High were also there to meet them and the volunteers. One of last year s Cadets brought tears to the eyes of the audience when he gave a speech saying that he found purpose whilst doing the course. He said that he had been suffering a difficult time at school and having trouble interacting socially. Becoming an SPCA cadet made him feel useful, confident and accepted. The GR SPCA Education Unit s leader, Inspector Gerda Reynders, gave a motivating presentation highlighting SPCA events in 2015 and the Cadets during their training. This gave the new candidates and the volunteers a glimpse of what will be expected from them during There were even two adults at the meeting who asked to become cadets! It was really fun giving an overview of all our fundraising events that will take place this year, said SPCA Liaison Officer Retha Havenga. The new volunteers loved the fact that we could give them some feedback on last year s events, and tell them why we need to raise money, she added. Retha is one of the dynamic driving forces behind the successful fundraising events that took place last year. The meeting ended with tea and very delicious cakes and snacks donated by: Deegmeisie from the Langeberg Mall; Die Broodmandjie and De Vlaming Bakery in Heiderand. They were thanked on the very active Mossel Bay SPCA Facebook page, ( gardenroutespca.mosselbaai) alongside Amanda and the personnel from the Diaz Museum who were friendly and cheerfully accommodating. WELL DONE MOSSEL BAY! 2015 SPCA Cadets (L-R): Andries, Shania, Dene, Irisa, Shane and Inspector Gerda. Missing was Sharlene who could not attend the ceremony.

6 6 SPCA CHARITY BOUTIQUE & HOME STORE SPECIAL ON UNTIL THE END OF MARCH. Buy something for R10 or more at the SPCA Charity Boutique and get a FREE R10 BOOK (or 10 magazines) of your choice from the SPCA Home Charity Shop. THE NEWLY OPENED SPCA CHARITY BOUTIQUE IS APPEALING FOR WINTER CLOTHES FOR THEIR SHELVES MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Every Swipe Counts Raise funds for the Garden Route SPCA with MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet by swiping your card at the following business partners: George Mossel Bay Knysna Plett. Nandos George Jacks paint Mugg& Bean Wimpy Supa Quick Mugg& Bean Giggles Timber Wolf Spur Supa Quick Supa Quick Mugg& Bean Mosskem Pharmacy George Skryfbehoeftes One Stop Wimpy Sedgefield Pharmacy Stationery Warehouse Mediese Sentrum Apteek Foto First Geronimo Spur Panarottis Pizza Pasta THESE ARE THE Panarotti's Pizza GR Mall NATIONAL PARTNERS: Upstairs at Harry's PNA Pharma Warehouse DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN EVEN GET MY SCHOOL POINTS WHEN BUYING ELECTRICITY? DBV MOSSELBAAI het n sertifikaat asook medalje ontvang vanaf die Mosselbaai Marine Protokol Forum met betrekking tot hul hulp gedurende Desember met gestrande Kaapse Pelsrob-welpies wat behandeling ontvang het en weer vrygelaat is. DON T FORGET THE SPCA GOLF DAY AT THE GEORGE GOLF CLUB ON MARCH 16TH! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPONSOR A HOLE or a prize PLEASE CONTACT HEATHER ON:

7 SPCA SUPPORTERS PAGE: THIS MONTH WE HAVE THE SECOND HALF OF THE DELIGHTFUL DOG ARTICLE BY CAROL ASTON 7 Reasons Why Dogs Are Man s Best Friend You may detect cancer sooner A dog s amazing sense of smell can be used for a variety of purposes, including cancer detection. Many dog owners have reported their dog sniffing, licking, or nudging spots that later turned out to be cancerous. One of the unexpected benefits of having a dog is that it may even save your life by helping you to detect cancer. Your children will be less likely to have allergies Children who are raised around a dog are less likely to have allergies. In fact, living in a home with a dog can help children grow up to have an increased immunity to pet allergies later in life. You can grow old gracefully Dog ownership benefits elderly people in many ways. They offer wonderful companionship for the elderly, Alzheimer s patients have fewer outbursts and caregivers of elderly patients report less stress when there is a dog in the home. Dogs are exceptionally smart! Intelligence varies depending on the kind of breed but overall, dogs are some of the most intuitive animals around. This is demonstrated by their multiple facial expressions, their ability to deviously hide toys in the strangest of places, and more. Dogs know how to live To put it simply, dogs behave like humans who aren t concerned about the more ridiculous aspects of sentient existence. For example, paying the bills, getting an, education, running errands, dealing with annoying people, etc. All they want to do is wake up, say hi to you, run around, play with their toys, eat, nap, eat again, nap again, say hi again, and sleep. Is that so bad?! Sure, we humans have certain responsibilities thanks to our intelligence, but it would be nice if we could all go through life like dogs; carefree and completely sure of ourselves. At the very least, if you have a dog, you can live vicariously through them. Dogs won t allow you to eat alone ever again Who wants to eat alone? Well, fear not, because if you have a dog you ll always have company for supper. Of course, they ll be sitting by your knee, panting in your face, asking for your food, but its company all the same! You ll feel safer dogs have your back. Dogs can be an effective home security system. Studies show that barking dogs deter burglars. Just knowing that you ve got a dog that can use its keen sense of hearing to detect anyone prowling around can help increase your sense of security which is good for both your mental and physical health. Your dog will defend you vigorously if anything untoward should happen. Man's best friend The friendship between man and dog has gone back thousands of years. Dogs didn't become "man's best friend" for no reason. They give us unconditional love every day. Do we deserve it? We hear too many stories of dogs being mistreated, dogs being made to fight, dogs being overbred for profit, dogs being killed because they don't have homes. Dogs have always been loyal to us. It's time we returned the favour... DID YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE A REGULAR SLOT ON OUR LOCAL RADIO STATION SFM EVERY THURSDAY AT 12H00? TUNE IN TO HEAR OUR STAFF GIVE VALUABLE TIPS AND UPDATES. SFM 90.1 / 104

8 8 SPCA SUCCESS AT THE DIAZ FESTIVAL The hard-working staff and volunteers from the Mossel Bay branch of the Garden Route SPCA were thrilled when they were awarded 3rd prize in the Diaz Festival street parade float competition! The best part of the win was the R2000 they received in prize money which was used to sterilise 10 animals from needy areas on WORLD SPAY DAY 23RD February. (HUGE THANKS TO DR DEMPSEY DE LANGE WHO PERFORMED THESE PROCEDURES). A further R3995 added to this was raised by the volunteers who manned a stall selling pre-loved goodies from their Charity Shop. SPCA volunteer Laurett Blok was responsible for the lovely paintings and decorations that adorned the SPCA rescue vehicle which was transformed into a colourful and fun billboard highlighting the SPCA s mission to keep all animals safe and well cared for. SPCA Charity Shop superstars Jack, Gill, Sandy and Dennis, with their helpers, made sure that the stall ran smoothly at the festival Thank you! The GR SPCA would like to say a huge thank you to the Mossel Bay Municipality for always giving them the (free of charge) opportunity to take part in events like these, and also to the Garden Route Casino Community Trust the prize money was well spent and has changed the lives of 10 lucky dogs and cats. The fun SPCA mascots and representatives on and around the float were Beanca Pelzer, Annelien Kitely, SPCA Inspector Mariska Jacobs, Retha Havenga (SPCA Liaison Officer), Naomi Grobbelaar (SPCA Receptionist), Ane Pelzer, Carla Grobbelaar, Ruan Jacobs and Stiaan Jacobs. OFFICE HOURS: Weekdays 9am 4pm Sat 9am-11am GEORGE: A/H Emergencies: MOSSEL BAY: A/H Emergencies: PLEASE REPORT ANIMAL CRUELTY