Westville Senior sponsors new K9 unit service dog
Westville Senior Primary School held numerous fundraiser art exhibitions to sponsor the Shongweni K9 Unit with a new sniffer dog for Cst Elliot Mdadane, who tragically lost his service dog, Chaka, in duty.
IN THE first school term Westville Senior Primary School was rocked with the news that there was a bomb on the premises, but it turned out to be nothing but a bomb scare.
But the bomb scare on 29 January made pupils and teachers aware of the hard and dangerous work bomb sniffer dogs and their handlers do. As a result, one of the school’s art teachers, Sybil Evans, initiated a fundraiser. Because the police service is not allowed to take donations, the school decided to donate to a trust that supports the K9 unit, Friends of the Force.
At the same time, Chaka, a Shongweni K9 Unit dog, died while on duty and the school decided that they would raise funds to buy a new dog for Cst Elliot Mdadane, Chaka’s handler.
Chaka was stabbed by his attackers and died as a result of his injuries. He was missing for 10 days after chasing thieves in the vicinity of Wiltshire Road, off Hans Dettman Highway in Pinetown on Friday, 17 October.
The pupils created artworks, all featuring dogs, that were exhibited at Westville Mall in September. Then, as the news of the exhibition and fundraising spread, more parents and pupils showed their support for the project at the school’s annual art exhibition two weeks ago, as well as at a second exhibition at Westville Mall.
In total, R21 054 was handed over to Ali Maynard from Friends of the Force.
