A dog day afternoon
RIVERSANDS – It was a day for the dogs on 2 June when the Rockabilly Hound Market Day took place at Riversands Farm Village in support of Husky Heaven Rescue and the 9th Day Rescue.
It was a day for the dogs on 2 June when the Rockabilly Hound Market Day was a barking success at the Riversands Farm Village.
The event was hosted in support of two Krugersdorp-based animal shelters, www.huskyheavenrescue.com and the 9th Day Rescue. The event was co-organised by Natalie Steyl, Charlie Sanborn, Michelle Worx and Anya Strydom and between 200 and 600 visitors were expected on the day.
The all-day event saw live acts every hour, about 30 stalls selling crafts, a dog walk, and food and drink on sale,
“Michelle and I were talking one day and decided to raise funds for two animal rescues,” said Steyl.
“We started planning the event back in February, and want people to understand that winter is coming and a lot of animals are going to suffer.”
Sanborn added, “We have pet huskies and wanted to help as much as we can. A lot of people support other charity initiatives focus on other causes, such as sick children, but people don’t realise that animals have the same basic needs as humans. My company, Synura, also sponsored raffle prizes to raise more money.”
Representatives of Husky Heaven Rescue and 9th Day Rescue were present on the day and brought along a few dogs for the public to interact with.
“It’s very good to be here today,” said Brenda Meyer, the owner of Husky Heaven.
“We’re caring for about 110 dogs right now, most of them huskies, and we’re funded completely by donations.”
Husky Heaven was started about four years ago and rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes husky breed dogs who are strays or who have been dumped by their owners. Present on the day was a husky named Max who is blind and another named Ragnar who was hit by a car and had to have his front leg amputated.
“Our organisation does not get a lot of support, and I hope that today people take the time to get to know us,” added Meyer.
The other organisation, 9th Day Rescue, brought along four dogs on the day who are up for adoption, and also participated in the dog walk around the venue.
“We opened 9th Day three years ago and care for about 250 dogs who are strays, or who have been abandoned or abused,” said Charmaine Booysens, who founded the organisation.
“We rely purely on public funding and we’re currently battling like most shelters. Unfortunately, it is the animals who suffer most when we’re underfunded.”
The organisers hoped to raise about R10 000 from the event.
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