As I have friends in Cape Town, I flew out a couple of days in advance of Amanda and Simon, who were due to arrive in country on the Sunday. The plan was for me to collect Amanda from the airport and then go to SASHA’s base in Sunnydale, before proceeding 300km’s northwest to our first location at Lamberts Bay, collecting Simon on the way out. Unfortunately, I received an SMS from Amanda early Sunday morning, saying she had not been allowed to board her flight as it was overbooked. Her arrival was not now due till 1000 am Monday. This was a problem, as we were due to start sterilising at 0800 on the Monday, and it was essential that we arrived in Lamberts Bay Sunday night!!. We decided that we would have to make arrangements for Amanda to be collected on the Monday, so we planned to leave just before 1300 on the Sunday.
After collecting Simon, whose first impressions of the Cape was the airport, we set off on a 3 hour drive – poor Simon had to make do with a small space in the back of the Bakkie (pronounced buckie – basically a pick up truck!) as we had decided not to take 2 vehicles to save costs on petrol. Our accommodation in Lamberts Bay was donated by a local volunteer, and was a very nice beach front chalet. After settling in, we were provided with a pre-cooked meal by Michelle, the local welfare organiser. When told of our predicament with Amanda, she made a few calls and came up with a solution. A friend was going to Cape Town, as a courier, and would be able to collect her from the airport, but only about 5 hours after she landed!! Since this was the only option, other than going to collect her myself, this plan was adopted. We sent Amanda several texts, to keep her up to date with what was going to happen, and kept our fingers crossed!!.After an early night, we went to the local hall where we were to set up for the next 2 days, and set up our “Hospital”
After unloading our gear from the Bakkie and trailer, we were ready for the first animals by just before 0900. With Michelle bringing in animals at a steady rate, we soon settled into a steady routine of “Premed, knockdown, operate, recover and send home” By tea time, we had accomplished a total of 30 animals. We returned to the chalet, and awaited Amandas’ arrival –finally joining us at about 2030!! The following morning, we started about 0730, and after a productive day, packed up all our gear and set off for Clanwilliam, about 90 kms from Lamberts Bay.
Our plan was to set cat traps after our arrival, as there was reportedly a problem with feral cats in the area. We had been invited to come to Clanwilliam by a newly organised welfare association. After setting 8 traps, we were shown to our accommodation – again sponsored by local volunteers. After settling in to our B & B’s we were treated to an excellent evening meal, and given access to the pool if we wanted!. Next morning, we were extremely upset to find that 2 of our traps had been vandalised – replacement cost to SASHA about R500 (Approx£40.00) each. Another dissapointment was that the feral cats were too well fed to feel the need to take the bait in the traps!!!
During the 3 days we were at Clanwilliam, the volunteers supplied us with a constant stream of both animals to sterilise and snacks and drinks – essential as the temperature was 38 – 39 degrees each day! By the end of our stay, we had sterilised totals of 59 animals in Lamberts Bay and 158 animals in Clanwilliam. After packing up late Friday afternoon, we returned, exhausted but satisfied with our achievments, to Cape Town. Relegating showers and cleaning up to second place, we retired to a local pub for a meal and a couple of beers before retiring to a well deserved rest.
The weekend was free for sight seeing, Amanda and Simon borrowing Yvonne’s car, whilst I returned to Tokai, to attend a fund raising evening at my friend’s house. A singing duo and a sleight of hand artist donated their time, to raise funds for sterilisation. We managed to raise R12,000.00, nearly £900.00 on the night, which financed 120 sterilisations by the Animal Rescue Organisation.
We all regrouped at Sunnydale for a 1500 departure on the Sunday, our initial destination Strandfontein, 400km northwest of Cape Town. After an almost 5 hour trip, we arrived at our accommodation, to find no keys, little co-operation from the person supposed to provide them – consequence – we decided to enter one of the chalets which had an open window, as it was very cold and blowing a gale. Eventually, we did get keys for the correct accommodation, but only after we had struggled to cook a meal of lamb chops on a very under powered cooker and micro wave!! Breakfast proved little better, scrambled eggs done in the microwave. This week was to be 2 days at Ebenhaeser, 2 days at Lutzville and the final day at Vredendal North organised by the local State vet. This was an unusual set up, as the state authourities are usually not very co-operative in this sort of project.
However, Jiten had hired a local hall and was very active in locating animals and bringing them to the hall for surgery. Despite being a self confessed “Bad organiser” he achieved a very good supply rate, and provided, sometimes late in the day, food supplies for us all!
Moving on from Ebenhaeser, we travelled on to Lutzville, about 30 km away. We were accommodated at a very nice B & B, The Golden Grape – donated by the proprieters. Although we were informed that we would have to pay for food, we were given complimentary wine on the first night, a cereal breakfast that extended to fruit, toast, coffee and tea. On our second night we were treated to a traditional Braai (BBQ) and a choice of wine and liqueurs. Total cost for our food -R30.00 – about £2.00!!
After finishing and packing our gear by 1600 on the Thursday, we moved on to our last location, Vredendal. Again, our accommodation was donated by the Vredendal Conference centre, but we had to pay for our own evening meal. As we had another vet with us, from the Animal Rescue Organisation, Roelof, who had previously owned a practice here, we had a splendid meal at a local restaurant. Following another early night, we were ready and set up at the local hall by 0800. Jiten, although on his last working day as State vet, had again organised a steady stream of animls, that kept us busy untill close of play at 1500, when we finally packed our gear and set off on the home trip to Cape Town. Our final total for the 10 days actually spent on site, was 410 sterilisations and 30 euthanasias.
Despite her shortened trip, Amanda experienced a hectic schedule and probably induced more anaesthetics and performed more sterilisations in her time with us than she has done over the past 18 months!. With Simon, she alternated days as surgeon and anaesthetist. As a veteran of 5 years involved in this kind of work, I would like to thank both Amanda and Simon for taking time out to join me in this venture.
by Bob Dawson, Veterinary Nurse, London
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