Dada reaches out to farming community around Bethal to care for their animals
With the word spreading of what Ms Pietersen does, she has since seen a huge demand from the farming community and also in the township.
Because Dogs & Co has joined hands with Bethal resident, Ms Dada Pietersen, in a campaign called #PROJECTUTHANDO that teaches owners the importance of sterilising and how to look after their pets.
The initiative began when Ms Pietersen reached out to the local farming community.
Ms Pietersen has animal welfare close at heart and took it upon herself, at her own expense, to assist farmworkers with sterilising their pets and taking better care of them.
Eventually, the demand for her help from farmworkers in other farming communities became more.
“Our organisation saw the work Ms Pietersen was doing and felt that we need to get involved and help her where we can,” said Ms Chantél Vorster of Because Dogs & Co.
“This is when we started #PROJECTUTHANDO.”
Ms Vorster said that between Ms Pietersen and their organisation, more than 100 pets have been sterilised.
“We go to the farmworkers and educate them on why they need to sterilise their pets and also do a check on the area to see if there is proper shelter, food and water for their pets,” said Ms Vorster.
She said they also educate the workers that if they need to have their pets on leashes, to at least make sure there is enough lead for the animal to be able to comfortably move around.
Ms Pietersen has three helpers, Mr Nicolas Ngcongwana, Mr Ben Simelane and Mr Thokozane Ngwenya, that assist her in the farming community when creating awareness on proper pet care.
With the word spreading of what Ms Pietersen does, she has since seen a huge demand from the farming community and also in the township.
“Mr Ngcongwana is very good when it comes to educating school children on the importance of proper care for their animals,” said Ms Vorster.
Through educating children, a series of books are handed out to them which teaches them how to look after their animals.
These books are brought from EduPaw of which there are the five freedoms, your dogs’ emotions, how to take care of animals when you go on holiday and much more. These books also provide fun colouring activities.
Through her work in the community, Ms Pietersen had come to learn of an elderly man who was hospitalised and needed temporary care for his fur buddy.
The man and his best friend reunited after nearly three months, however, tragedy struck not long after when the man had collected his SASSA grant.
He was attacked in his shack and all his money and belongings were stolen. The man was left for dead.
“Ms Pietersen learnt of the incident and contacted an ambulance. The man was taken to Bethal hospital but sadly died,” said Ms Vorster.
She said when Ms Pietersen went back to the man’s shack she found out he had no family members. The dog is now in the care of Ms Pietersen.
Because of Covid-19, most of the fundraisings events had to be cancelled, however, Because Dogs & Co are hoping to see their Neon Night Walk take place in the next couple of weeks.
It will all depend on social distancing and other Covid-19 protocols. Dates and more on this will be made available in due time.
One of the biggest challenges the organisation is currently facing is animals with serious health issues, such as tumours, cancer and eye injuries.
“These owners wait till the very end. Just before the animal is about to die, then only they contact us. In most cases, they are almost too late and the cost for the treatment adds up,” said Ms Vorster.
She said all bad cases that they have attended, ended in good stories.
She mentioned that a large part of their support base has lately been coming from Gauteng.
“A lot of people from Gauteng have been adopting animals. We also do get a lot of puppies and cases from Bethal, Kriel and Standerton,” said Ms Vorster.
Because Dogs & Co focuses more on rehoming animals.
In three years, Because Dogs & Co has rehomed more than 700 cats, dogs and bunnies.
They also rescued fish, snakes, birds and hedgehogs.
“We face a huge challenge of people dumping their pets.
“In one day, we received nine puppies in a wheelbarrow. Someone dumped the mother and father on a premise and left the mother to give birth to her babies,” said Ms Vorster.
She said they also face a huge challenge of animals found in houses occupied by drug addicts and are not taken care of.
If you would like to donate dog or cat food, contact Ms Vorster via WhatsApp message only on 081 013 4952.
Banking details for cash donations can be made to:
Because Dogs and Co
First National Bank
Account number 627 7310 1557
Branch 250655
