Anthea’s love for animals knows no bounds
Anthea's love and passion for animals are evident for all to see and she hopes to build her own rehabilitation centre in the near future
There’s a quote that says, ‘An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language’ and it’s in those eyes that Anthea Dekker learnt the language of love.
The 22-year-old Dundonian is an animal lover of note, owning six dogs, two cats and three horses. While she has opened her heart to all animals, it’s her horses that are her pride and joy.
At the age of 12, Anthea began riding horses and fell in love with the majestic animals. After school, she studied Horse Masters and Equine Muscle Therapy at the Shumba Valley Equestrian College and always dreamed of owning her own horses.
She now has three, Legend, Bella and Lady, each with their own personalities and characteristics, and each who shaped her life in some way.
“They energise me. Being with them makes everything worthwhile. They’re my safety net and listen without judgment,” Anthea said.
Lady was very ill-looking and was left to die when she came into Anthea’s life and through her work rehabilitating horses, she was able to give her a new lease on life.
Legend and Bella were abandoned and found their way to the FCS Unit on McKenzie Street. It was there that Sonja Stander contacted Anthea for help and she fell in love with them immediately.
“It took a while for them to adjust. They had to learn to trust me. Once they saw how I interacted with Lady, they realised it was a safe space.”
Anthea bonded quite quickly with Legend, but Bella still had her reservations at first. Now, however, the trust between the horses and her is impeccable.
“Having horses gives me purpose. Everything I do is for them. They’re a constant reminder of what I live for and what I work for.”
Anthea’s love and passion for animals are evident for all to see and she hopes to build her own rehabilitation centre in the near future, where any domestic animal can come to learn to be safe again.
“Healing animals heals a part of me. We can get so much love from animals; all we have to do is open our hearts to them.”
Anthea has opened her heart and home to animals, and with her unbridled passion for helping them heal, she’s saddling up for a long ride of making a difference in their lives.
