Invest in the education of our children for their future and that of the animals
Our tenacity has paid off, and we have received more great support from several trust funds. The Old Mutual Staff Volunteer Fund Trust donated R18,000 to help us with our running costs, and the D G Murray Trust has pledged R34,800 to purchase the equipment we need to go full steam ahead with our school programme.

We firmly believe that we must actively pursue a program to educate our children and in so doing, create a more sensitive, caring and compassionate environment for animals. Whilst most of our time is spent on sterilisation, it must be coupled with active education of our youth to instill in them a respect, understanding and regard for all animals.

We also try to persuade and influence people as we go door to door in our indigent communities: many animals are in poor condition simply through ignorance. Although there will always be deliberate cruelty, many animals’ lives can be improved by simply talking to people and providing them with basic knowledge and encouragement.

We go out of our way to accommodate the major language groups by distributing educational leaflets in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. We also liaise with other organisations to learn about their experiences and how they appeal to our better human nature when it comes to caring for animals.

We are most grateful to our sponsors as we can now actively and regularly visit schools to educate children on the care of their pets, and to help them to understand that animals should be treated with respect and be regarded as both a social and integral part of their lives.

Our thanks to the Humane Education Trust again for assisting us with educational materials that we can use to both ‘entertain’ and impart knowledge to the school children. We aim to create a light- hearted learning environment for kids, and what they learn can be shared with their families and friends.

Exciting times ahead lie ahead – if you would like to join us on our ‘journey to educate the children’, please contact us.

SASHA website live!
We are extremely grateful to Sean and James for getting our website up and running, – Sean has spent many hours setting the pages up and there may be one or two mistakes at the moment, so please let us know if you see any funny spellings or other problems. We are always keen for feedback on any aspect of our organisation.

We would love someone to volunteer to assist us with updating the site, and also to sort through the many photos we have taken over the last year or so to get a few more pics in the gallery. Please contact us if you can help.

STERILISATION STATS:
In the last five months, since Barrington started, we have increased our sterilisation rate – we have sterilised 159 dogs and 76 cats in these five months – and 4 rabbits, and totals of 192 dogs and 119 cats since SASHA started in June 2006. This is in line with our philosophy of sterilisation to reduce the number of animals being born to a life of neglect and abuse.
However, the Doc and her assistant Barrington could do many more sterilisations if they had more help with the transportation of the animals and also the cleaning and feeding of the patients - they currently do all these chores themselves.

The pre- and after-care of our patients is very time consuming and our priority has to be where we are needed most, out in the field both educating animal owners and collecting animals for sterilisation, and also performing the actual sterilisations. The best solution would be to hire a clinic assistant but we need to raise funds to do this.
You could help us achieve this goal by setting up a stop order with your bank, which would provide us with the regular income to employ another assistant. Although we received many generous one off donations to our organisation over the last 15 months it is only when we receive a regular income - set amounts every month - that we know we can afford to get an extra employee to free up our time to do more.

We manage to operate on a running budget which is actually quite low so even a small amount each month will make a difference. Our books are open and available for anyone to see how all our money is spent. Please set up a stop order (remember we are a PBO so your donation can be claimed against tax) or contact us for more information. If anyone out there knows of any CORPORATE SPONSORS who may consider helping, please contact them directly or let us know. Anyone who is interested in seeing our premises for themselves, and seeing how we work, is welcome to 'phone to arrange this.

X-RAY FACILITY
The X-ray facility is not quite finished but we are nearly there. We are still looking for funding to help with the costs of films and the chemicals needed to process the films - if you can help with this or any other items of equipment for this facility, please contact us.

Feral Cat Report:
Since the last newsletter we have had quite a few requests for assistance with single or groups of feral cats. Some people would like to see all of these animals destroyed but, apart from the moral aspects, there are reasons why this is usually not a good solution. If one colony is destroyed more cats will move into the area unless the reasons for them being there in the first place are removed, i.e. source of food and shelter. So taking cats away to relocate them or put them to sleep is often a fruitless pursuit. We encourage TNR (trap-neuter-release) where possible.

Another big problem that we see is that many people think that trying to tame and confine a cat is the kindest option. Many people want to nurture those that they feel are neglected. But does the cat think the same? Even if a feral cat comes to be fed by a carer, it does not mean that it appreciates being handled or confined. When confined it may stop spitting and attacking after a while but this does not mean that it is relaxed or does not want to escape. The stress of confinement can certainly affect the cat's physical and mental health. We ask people to consider the following quote very carefully before trying to keep a feral cat, which is from Donna Bishop, Founder of the Alliance for Animals: "No one should have to live out in the cold. We mean well when we take these feral cats in. We mean well when we expect them to share our homes and lifestyles, join our feline companions, enjoy our food, our shelter. It may take time, but surely they will come to recognize that we care about them, and mean them no harm. Surely they will come to thank us for rescuing them from their harrowing lives outside ….
But it is we who do not understand. It is we who mistake our own needs for those of the cat; it is we who need them, not they who need us. We need to feel important, we need to feel special – we have that "special" touch that will tame a feral cat. We have "saved" them, we are truly compassionate, even heroic. We give up hours of our day to sit with them, nurture them. We don't see that we are terrorizing them, forcing them into an alien environment because it fits our definition of what is best."

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR RECENT SPONSORS WHO ARE TO MANY TO MENTION AGAIN -
A special thanks to BALLOON CITY for purchasing an oxygen cylinder for our operating theatre.

SALES SALES SALES
Sales of bric-a-brac, books and clothing are now up and running. The book sales happen every first Thursday of the month at Longbeach Mall (outside Ackermans); clothing sales each Friday at Masiphumelele (our man Barrington has been doing good trade), and bric-a-brac whenever we have good quality goods to sell. WE NEED MORE STOCK OF ALL OF THE ABOVE, SO WHEN YOU HAVE A CLEAN OUT, PLEASE CALL US. WE COLLECT. Many thanks to LORRAINE for organising all the books and bric-a-brac.

TAKING A UNITED APPROACH
The following organisations make up the newly established Animal Forum.
Animal Anti -Cruelty League
Animal Rescue Organisation
Animal Welfare Society
Cart Horse Protection Association
PDSA - Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals
PUPP - Project for the Upliftment of Pets and People
SASHA - Sunnydale Animal Sterilisation and Health Association
SPCA - Cape of Good Hope
TEARS - The Emma Animal Rescue Society

The purpose of the Animal Forum is to discuss and address common ground issues including sterilisation campaigns, adoptions, by-laws and related animal welfare concerns in the Cape Metropole. Communication is essential for effective welfare services, and Forum meetings are key to the Cape Metropole area presenting a united force on animal welfare related issues. There is a misconception that organisations can't work together. The above organisations communicate effectively on a regular basis, with exceptional support being shown by all concerned. The welfare of animals in the Cape Metropole is the main objective of all the organisation's represented at the Animal Forum, so your continued support of animals is of tremendous value.

ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR
1." Dogs that bark at night"
Dogs bark for a reason. If your dog is barking excessively and unnecessarily, then he is anxious for some reason. He may be cold or uncomfortable or just lonely. If he is an outside dog then I presume part of his purpose is to be a watchdog, but if he is barking and you aren't taking any notice, then his job is redundant. On the other hand, if he was allowed to sleep inside (perhaps in the kitchen), he would not be so anxious and if he did bark you would take more notice - better watchdog!

Many puppies go through a barking stage at about six months of age, especially if they sleep outside. The best thing to do about the barking is to ignore it totally and wear earplugs for a few days. If he gets a face shouting at him from the window, it may be just what he wanted and so barking can become attention seeking behaviour.

Dogs are also naturally nocturnal, so will happily rest all day and play and bark all night, depending on the routine that the rest of the “pack” follows. If you are away all day and home at night, your dog will obviously want to get your attention at night. Dogs should have company (human, dog or other animal) most of the day.

Make sure all your dog’s needs are met. Is your dog getting enough nutritious food (according to his weight), preferably the last meal in the evening before bedtime? Is he warm enough at night? Does he get enough stimulation in the form of exercise, play and interaction with people and other dogs during the day? Or is barking his way of getting some reactions from dogs and people?

If your dog is not used to being outside and you need to leave him out, then do things gradually. Go out with him at night, so he gets used to the dark. A dog flap to go in and out freely is ideal. If this isn't possible then you need to do things in stages. Perhaps put the dog kennel inside for a while and leave him inside with it. The first time you leave him outside, give him a new chewy toy or bone to keep him occupied outside. You can also give him Rescue Remedy 10 minutes before you lock the door and you can leave the TV or radio on for background noise. Try not to make a fuss before locking him out or when you open the door in the morning, as this makes the separation worse for him.

Herbal remedies: A dose of Rescue Remedy or Valerian (ask your vet for the dosage) just before you go to bed at night for a week or so should make him sleep better and hopefully break the pattern.

Although I don’t recommend citronella or electric barking collars, these are sometimes the last resort before euthanasing a dog, so if you’ve tried everything else consistently with the help of a reputable behaviourist, then contact Securipet, who have a range of training collars and tools.

The best advice for owners with dogs that bark at night is: Keep your dogs inside! If it’s a neighbour’s dog, you need to let them know in a polite, friendly way and keep the channels of communication open. Make friends with your neighbours and their dogs and offer to help them solve the problem. I have often found that throwing the odd chewy toy over the wall keeps the neighbours’ dogs happily chewing for hours, thus preventing barking.
Karen Gray-Kilfoil
www.animal-behaviour.org.za/karengray

Doc's report: "Rabbit Rescue"
Don’t forget our smaller friends: apart from dogs and cats there are a few other animals which are kept as pets, as I was reminded a couple of weeks ago when I was asked about some rabbits… rabbits rescued from someone who just let them keep breeding… and breeding. 80 rabbits later this person decided that they did not want them. Somebody rescued 8 of these rabbits and asked us if they could be sterilised – as they did NOT want another 80 rabbits.
Rabbits make good pets and can be house-trained. They can start breeding from as early as 4 months of age and may give birth several times a year. Pregnancy lasts for 4 to 5 weeks and they will often give birth to 7 or 8 babies, although sometimes more. Rabbits can be spayed and neutered. As with any patient receiving a general anaesthetic (including people!) there is a small risk.
However, once sterilised the rabbits can have a long and happy life mingling freely with their companions: they are best housed in small groups so that they can engage in social activities. Fighting sometimes occurs amongst adult rabbits but is much less likely if they are sterilised. They often live for 5 or 6 years, sometimes much longer.

STOP PRESS: "URGENT"
Just as we were going to press, our washing machine broke down. We have much dirty bedding to wash and having a machine makes it easier and much quicker. If anyone can help with a replacement, we would be hugely grateful.

THANK YOU SHAFIEK BEHARDIEN, WALTONS STATIONERS, OTTERY – 021 7623700
A million thanks for the discounted stationery, free delivery to our doorstep in double quick time! What wonderful service!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
for all your support this year to KLINE ENGINEERING Unit 42, Fish Eagle Park, Kommetjie
CNC PRECISION MACHINING, PROGRAMMING AND MECHANICAL DESIGN 082 925 5652 / 021 783 0494

SAVA initiative
The South African Veterinary Association Western Cape branch is keen to organise regular spayathons in our impoverished areas. We have been asked to help organise these and are keen to find someone who could help us with a few 'phone calls to arrange venues and other aspects of this programme. The initial idea is that we organise a spayathon approximately every 2 months, requesting some local veterinary surgeons and nurses to assist for a day on a voluntary basis. We are currently identifying the neediest areas. We are also keen to provide education for people in these communities – for example, emphasising the importance of de-worming your pet. We do not have a date fixed for the first campaign yet, but please contact us if you think you may be able to offer assistance before or on the day – to help hold animals and watch them as they recover from anaesthesia, for example.

And finally:
Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.
Ann Landers

Untill next time.....
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