New kennels for Nieu Bethesda’s dogs

NIEU-BETHESDA — Some fortunate Nieu-bethesda dogs have been the recipients of sturdy new kennels to keep them shaded in this fierce heat, and warm in the icy winter to come.

To date, the Namaqua Dog and Donkey Foundation (NDDF) - in the capable hands of Reinette Smith from Benoni - has organised sponsorship of 10 brand new, sturdy kennels for Nieu-bethesda dogs.

Each kennel costs R500 to sponsor. The kennels are beautifully made by a man in an informal settlement near Benoni who now has a good source of income. The sponsor's name is placed on a plaque on the kennel. In a place of extreme weather such as our Karoo, these kennels are really appreciated.

Victoria Nance is an animal lover in Bethesda who works hand in hand with the NDDF. She assesses which homes will benefit from kennels using the following criteria:

• The owner must allow her to organise sterilization for all of their animals (males included.)

• They have to prove that they are responsible pet owners and that they will not collect more dogs than they are capable of looking after properly.

• They sign a contract to state that they will not sell or damage the kennel and endeavour to maintain them with creosote that Victoria supplies on a regular basis.

Victoria believes that these kennels are a "fabulous incentive for dog owners and raise Kathleen and Kasper with their ‘children’ Sukie and Vlooi. awareness that dogs should be kept warm and sheltered as well as being fed".

Two of the recent recipients of the kennels are residents of 'Kooikamp' - a small informal settlement on the northern edge of Bethesda.

Kasper (also fondly known as Vellies) and his wife Kathleen are proud dog owners and their dogs Sukie and Vlooi are a testament to the love and care that they have for their dogs. Kasper lost his legs a few years ago and his faithful dogs are by his side night and day. Sukie and Vlooi are well fed and in excellent condition and happily gambol with neighbourhood dogs in the area.

Young Steven lives in the shack next door to Kasper and Kathleen. Victoria noticed that he was a quiet, sad boy as he has recently lost one of his dogs to biliary and then another that was run over. The delight on his face on receiving a new kennel made it worth so much more than a useful home for his beloved dogs.

Kennels aside, Reinette Smith also organised a donation of 30 dog bowls for the kennel owners as well as a box of collars which are given to each dog in the village as it gets sterilized.

A collared dog means that it belongs to someone and is taken care of by this community - and makes strays more easily identifiable in Nieu-bethesda.

If anyone would like to sponsor a kennel, please contact Reinette Smith on 076 714 5460. Jeffrey and Steven beam with delight with Meisiekind.