Help a dog & buy a kennel
“Every dog deserves a home” is the message that Aneska and Shaun Spies want to convey with their nonprofit organisation, Kennels for a Cause. With the support of local animal rescue organisations in Somerset West, they build dog kennels that are distributed for free.
Their second fun-filled kennelpainting day in September saw friends, donors and local businesses “purchasing” a prebuilt dog kennel and painting and decorating it themselves.
“The Friends of Radloff Park in Somerset West approached us last year and asked if we could make 20 kennels for their family day,” says Aneska. “This year, they asked us again, this time for 50 kennels, which quickly turned into 53.” The completed kennels were handed over to nine different animal rescue groups to distribute to dog owners in the community.
In addition to the welcome extra pairs of hands, the day was also an opportunity for the community to get involved with Kennels for a Cause in a practical way.
Putting the wooden kennels together is hard work, but for
Aneska and Shaun, it is well worth the effort.
Help where you can
“I’ve had animals in my life for as long as I’ve been on this planet,” says Aneska. “We have two dogs: Ace, my first love, and Archie, our foster fail.”
The idea behind Kennels for a Cause stems from Aneska’s involvement in an animal vaccination campaign in 2021. She was amazed by how many pets were brought in by residents on that day.
“I walked away with a sense of sadness and a deep appreciation for my dog, Ace, who waits for me at home with her own kennel, enough food, and access to a vet at any time. My heart ached for people who wanted to do more for their pets but couldn’t afford to,” she says. “I told my husband that there must be something we could do. And that’s when we got this crazy idea.”
In the future, Aneska and Shaun plan to offer smaller kennelpainting events at their home on a more regular basis. “My vision for Kennels for a Cause is also to create jobs because it’s a huge undertaking.
Since both Shaun and I work fulltime, we build the kennels in our spare time. We want to teach people how to build kennels themselves.”
Aneska is inviting people to get involved in the project by donating their time at the next painting day or by contributing money or materials such as wood, screws and waterproof paint. Keep an eye on the Kennels for a Cause social media platforms for information on the next kennel-painting event. Contact Kennels for a Cause @kennels4acause 066 271 7141 kennels4acause@gmail.com >