From tragedy to triumph
The animal rescue industry is certainly better with passionate people such as Karin Donald in it.
“Every time someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place.” – Captain Raymond Holt, Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
The animal rescue industry is certainly a better place with passionate people such as Karin Donald in it. The owner of Kitty Kazz Kitten Rescue is the ultimate cat lady. Her house and offices ring with purrs and meows and of course, the occasional four-legged fur ball brushing against your calf. However, the road to fulfilment was filled with darkness, addiction and grief that sent her spiralling to rock bottom.
Karin details how she started using drugs from the age of 14, first as a fun escape, but it wasn’t long before it turned into dependency. “My brother passed away when I was 18 and that’s when the wheels came off. I lost control of myself and I was completely spiralling,” she began. “In 2014, I was arrested for malicious damage to property because I had a fight with my landlord just after I was attacked, assaulted and raped. I sat in the Krugersdorp holding cells for three weeks and that was a turning point.”
She said her parents had completely given up on her. Her pastor found her in the holding cells and rang a deafening alarm bell. “He said to me ‘you are going to die. You need to fix your life now’. He booked me into a rehab in the Free State. I was there for two years. I gave my life to the Lord and became a new person.” She left rehab with her old life behind her and a new lease on life.
She began volunteering and received a job offer at an animal shelter. The rest, as they say, is history. The Muldersdrift resident had found her niche. “I have always loved cats, I had seven growing up. I dipped my toe in every area of shelter life. There was a cattery that wasn’t really run by anybody, and my love for it started growing. I started pushing for it. I was in my element. I acquired hands-on and in-depth experience with cat and kitten rescue, as well as re-homing.”
This love grew and blossomed into Kitty Kazz Kitten Rescue in Nooitgedacht. The centre was opened due the overwhelming number of stray and unwanted kittens on the streets and the lack of shelters. “I started my own business so that I could put my own beliefs into practice. It is my aim to develop a clear strategy supported by values, trusting that others will support and be motivated by them. I am also supported by directors with many years of successful business involvement, who are always there to monitor and mentor me in the way forward.”
Kitty Kazz opened its doors in May this year, and 56 kittens have been adopted since then. She revealed that one of the most important traits to have in the field is the ability to say ‘No’. “You need to be certain that you have enough time and funds to take care of all of them. My cut-off is 30; I would prefer to keep it at 25 because it’s a number I know I can handle. It’s cleaning every day, food and medical costs, and I do everything on my own. This extends to admin, social media, adoptions etc.”
Karin quips that her life is a true testimony and she is not wrong. From substance abuse, depression, cutting herself and dealing with regret after her brother’s passing – she has not only rebuilt her life on her own terms but she continues to do something of which there can never be enough in this world; saving others.
Contact Kitty Kazz on 081 736 1506
