Pooch lovers go the extra mile
Grandmother and granddaughter duo assist animals in the Valley.
SHONGWENI residents Yvonne Michelin and her granddaughter, Gabrielle Kochi, have been selflessly helping residents in the Valley of a Thousand Hills with taking proper care of their pets.
According to Michelin, the duo’s altruistic deeds were prompted by her 12-year-old granddaughter’s love for animals. “Every evening we drop off our staff in the Valley. One evening she asked me if we could help out the animals, and we have been doing it ever since. We help where we can,” said Michelin.
Initially, Michelin and Kochi began feeding the dogs on a daily basis with chicken mince, donated by a local chicken farmer, with some maize meal. But, soon they began buying and distributing bottles of flea dip and other medicine.
Kochi reported that many of the animals suffer from dangerous diseases such as biliary fever and distemper, and if left untreated often die. Currently they are feeding 70 dogs in the Valley.
The compassionate pair often care for some of the sick animals, and pay for their veterinary bills. “We also try to spay, vaccinate and rehabilitate as many of the animals as we can. Some of the local veterinaries help us without any charge or at a reduced cost. The Animal Anti Cruelty League also helps to spay some of the animals from the Valley,” said Michelin.
Currently, they are caring for an Africanis dog and her four puppies. “The dog’ s owner came to us with the pregnant dog and asked us to have her spayed, and to find homes for the puppies. Once she has been spayed we will return her to her owner, and as soon as the puppies are old enough we will do our best to find loving homes for them,” said Michelin.
Kochi and her grandmother are also taking the time to educate the residents, particularly the children, with regards to properly caring for their pets. “We bring them toys and teach them how to play with their dogs, how to pick them up properly, how to walk them with leads and how to administer the medicine. The children have especially shown interest,” said Kochi.
The young animal lover reported that she dreams of establishing her own animal rescue sanctuary where she can continue to rescue and help animals from disadvantaged communities.
