Wollies founder reflects as shelter celebrates 12 years

The Wollies Animal Shelter in Heatherdale, north of Pretoria, celebrated its 12th anniversary this past weekend with a heartwarming community event that brought together animal lovers, volunteers, and local supporters on May 24.

The festivities included a spirited dog walk and a bustling market filled with stalls, all in honour of the shelter’s enduring mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals in need.

The celebration kicked off with a dog walk, where residents had the opportunity to take shelter dogs on a joyful stroll through the shelter’s open field.

This initiative not only provided the dogs with much-needed exercise and socialisation but also allowed participants to connect with the animals and understand the shelter’s work firsthand.

According to the founder of Wollies, Cilla Trexler, the shelter has taken care of thousands of animals over the years and aims to continue to do so.

The non-profit organisation opened its doors in 2013 with the promotion of the sterilisation of abandoned animals and those owned by disadvantaged people at an affordable price.

Trexler said the initial plan of the shelter was to rescue and rehabilitate unwanted, abused and neglected animals.

The event also featured a variety of stalls offering food, crafts, and pet-related products, creating a festive atmosphere that highlighted the community’s support for Wollies.

Local vendors and volunteers came together to raise funds and awareness for the shelter, emphasising the collective effort required to sustain such a vital organisation.

Reflecting on the shelter’s journey, Trexler shared her heartfelt motivation: “It was my calling to open the shelter,” she said.

“I couldn’t ignore the plight of abandoned and abused animals. Establishing Wollies was about giving them a second chance at life.”

Trexler’s dedication has been the driving force behind the shelter’s growth and success over the past 12 years.

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Since its inception in 2013, Wollies has evolved from a small sterilisation project into a comprehensive animal welfare organisation.

Now housing over a hundred animals, the shelter operates as a non-profit, pro-life institution that receives no government funding.

Its mission extends beyond rescue and rehabilitation to include public education on responsible pet ownership and the importance of sterilisation.

The anniversary event not only celebrated the shelter’s achievements but also served as a reminder of the ongoing challenges it faces.

With the increasing number of animals in need, Wollies relies heavily on community support through donations, adoptions, and volunteer work.

“The thing is that we have more animals coming than animals going out, whether through adoption or handing them over to their owners.

“But overall, I am happy and overwhelmed, and I am thankful for reaching 12 years because it’s not easy to run a shelter. I am very proud to have gone so far.”

She said it wasn’t easy starting the shelter due to the lack of support.

“We struggled quite a lot. You only get support when you get bigger, or if you can get people who are used to you, so it was hard in the beginning.

“I would’ve never chosen to start a shelter; this is what I was born to do; it’s a calling,” said Trexler.

Kennel manager Innocent Gwandiwa said it’s a huge success for the shelter to reach 12 years.

“From where and when we started, 12 years is not a joke.

“The challenges that we mostly face are more pets coming and at some point we are full, and people not wanting to sterilise their dogs,” said Gwandiwa.

He said the shelter is mostly dominated by the Africanis breed.

Resident Tiffany Swart said walking the dogs was the biggest highlight of the day for her.

“The celebration is something fulfilling to the heart. My favourite pet is a dog, I love the K9 breeds,” said Swart.

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