We would like to thank everyone who has shown their support by making monetary donations as well as food donations during the month of August. A huge thank you to all the amazing people who entered our calendar 2019 competition. We received more than 150 entries, and will notify the winners once the finalists info is available. To everyone who participated in our Mad Hatters Quiz night, thank you, tickets were sold out one week before the event. Our Society is also getting ready for the busier months ahead, as kitten and puppy season is upon us, which means more and more animals to be surrendered as unwanted or abandoned.
Pawfully yours
KAWS TEAM
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HISTORY OF KAWS
Please note that the insert in our July 2018 issue regarding the History of KAWS, was just an overview of members and projects implemented throughout the years. We are very thankful for those amazing people that started our Society, implemented amazing projects that are still in use but with new staff to build on the foundation that they set.
This months insert will feature, the current committee members.
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KAWS CHAIRMAN - IAN SHROSBREE
Our family donated to KAWS for many years – and adopted two dogs – before I got involved with the committee. I was asked to be part of the committee by Veronica Carter who I had got to know through the Hillclimb as KAWS assisted us at the event. After about 2 years when Marten left I became chairman.
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VICE-CHAIRPERSON - COLLEEN UNDERWOOD
Since 1990 I was a volunteer at the kennels helping clean the kennels and feed the animals over the weekends. I also helped in the office on Saturdays or when the office staff went on leave.
Ins September 2007 I became the Bookkeeper helping Anthony Parker who was the Treasurer at the time. In 2008 I came onto the Committee as the Treasurer and still continued as the Bookkeeper. In 2017 I took on the additional role of Vice-Chairperson.
I am passionate about Knysna Animal Welfare and love being involved with the running of the kennels and helping wherever help is needed.
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SECRETARY - GERALDINE DIEDLOFF
Geraldine was appointed after she applied for the position in 2016
She loves animals and seeing that her work do not allow her a lot of free time, this was the ideal way to give back.
She attended her first meeting in July 2016 as secretary
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PROJECTS PORTFOLIO - COBRI VERMEULEN
Cobri and her husband Wessel became Life Members in 1989 when KAWS was still known as Knysna Plett Animal Welfare Society.
Cobri and Wessel are since then, committed foster parents and dog walkers for our Society.
In 2015 Cobri joined the committee to implement the Sponsor Spay, Kennel and Unchain the dog projects. In 2018 she also implemented the Sponsor-A-Vaccination project. These projects are still ongoing under the watchful eye of Cobri
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FUNDRAISING PORTFOLIO - CATHIE GARNER
Since coming to live in Knysna almost 6 years ago, Cathie has been a regular dog walker at our kennels and currently holds the position on the KAWS committee as fund raiser – as well as being a trainer for Happy Dogs dog school. The photo shows Cathie and her rescue Border Collie cross dog, Cassidy collecting at the Pink Loerie parade.
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VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR PORTFOLIO - JANET UPSHER
I started volunteering to walk the dogs at Knysna Animal Welfare when I moved to Knysna in 2010. I try to walk at least once a week but usually manage twice a week. I try to co-ordinate the volunteers which is like herding kittens, since I joined the committee this year.
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15 AUGUST - MY SCHOOL SPONSORED SPAY DAY
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KAWS Quiz Night a roaring success!
Well, the 5th annual KAWS Quiz Night was certainly a fun evening all round, with everyone joining in with a least a hat to accompany the theme of Mad Hatters Tea Party – and lots of the tables really going all out to decorate their tables with all sorts of finery – some quirky, some classic!
The tables were full with many people making a return visit from last year, and we are delighted to say it was fully booked up over a week before the event! We were also very fortunate to have some amazing prizes donated by local businesses, which helped our raffle raise over R2,000.
As usual we served some delicious soups for supper for which we thank Food Lovers Market, Lesley Fox, Elaine Hunneysett and Elaine Elliott and of course our signature gluhwein was available to warm everyone up on arrival. The 3 rounds of questions covered a wide range of knowledge – with some Alice in Wonderland ones thrown in for good measure!
The winning team were the defending champions from last year – and, as last year, were a team of just 4 people! Congratulations to the Dog Whisperer team
Thank you to everyone who supported us either by attending, donating or helping out – the final sum raised was R11,800 – which will go a long way to helping KAWS with their very necessary work in the area.
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COMMUNITY SERVICE - WELFARE ORGANISATION
Each year high school learners need to do at least 3 hours of community service at any welfare organisation as stipulated in their curriculum.
Loads of children from Knysna High and Oakhill chose our Society.
Some groups walked dogs, others gave our cats some TLC, others assisted with making food parcels and some even helped to scrape down walls that need painting.
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STERILIZATION MYTHS
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS LET A FEMALE HAVE ONE HEAT PERIOD BEFORE STERILIZATION:
False, the only thing allowing a female dog to have one heat session may accomplish, is the possibility of an unwanted pregnancy.
UNDERGOING STERILIZATION IS DANGEROUS:
As with all procedures that require an anesthetics, there is always a degree of risk, but if the procedure is undertaken by a licensed vet, the routine sterilization procedure is actually less dangerous and stressful than the complications that could happen in pregnancy.
MY DOG IS A MALE:
Dogs conceive purely on biological instinct and don't feel deprived by sterilization, but a dog that is not sterilize will suffer from extreme frustration if it scents a female in season and can't get to her. The result of this could easily lead to behavior problems and even reactive behavior - you are stopping the dog from following it's natural instinct.
MY DOG WON'T BE A GOOD WATCH DOG IF STERILIZED:
False, if anything your dog will be more devoted to its human family.
IT WILL CHANGE MY DOG'S PERSONALITY:
This is not true. Sterilization does not affect a dog's nature; they retain their natural and playful instincts.
STERILIZATION WILL MAKE MY DOG FAT:
False, although the lower average metabolic rate of sterilized dogs will make it easier for some dogs to gain weight, this can be eliminated by cutting the daily food intake by about 15% subsequent to the sterilization procedure. Remember, sterilization will not make your dog fat - too much food and not enough exercise will make your dog fat.
MY DOG WILL GET LAZY:
False, whether a dog is lazy or not depends entirely on their temperament and personality
ALL FEMALE DOGS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE ONE LITTER BEFORE STERILIZATION:
There are absolutely no health benefits by allowing this at all. In actual fact female dogs that are sterilized before the first heat cycle have much lower risks of developing mammary cancers.
STERILIZE YOUR DOG TODAY!
(Animal Anti-Cruelty League Cape Town)
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KAWS KENNEL DROP - RHEENENDAL AUGUST 2018
5 Deserving dogs received each a kennel after they were sterilized earlier this month.
A huge thank you to Sue Bond for the sponsorship of these kennels.
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FROM DRAB TO FAB....
We are in the process of doing some much needed maintenance on the premises but also giving our kennels a much needed "face-lift" Above is one of the adoption dogs, sleeping kennels, hopefully in the next week all the kennels will be looking brand new. A huge thank you to all involved!
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Upcoming events
Spring is here – and so is our KAWS Book Sale!
We will be holding our annual book sale at Knysna Mall on Saturday 1 September from 08h30 – 14h30. As always we desperately need helpers to make sure we sell as many books as possible – so if you can spare an hour (or more) to come along and join our cheerful team and help out, please contact Cathie Garner on 083 291 7967 or cathie.garner@arup.com
We are also looking for good quality, gently used books – so maybe it’s the right time to have an early spring clean and donate some for us to sell! Contact Cathie to organize collection.
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OUR NEXT MINI SPAY DAY WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE 12TH OF AUGUST, SHOULD YOU WISH TO SPONSOR-A-SPAY FROM A LESS FORTUNATE AREA PLEASE READ THE INFO BELOW, AND WE WILL GLADLY STERILIZE AN ANIMAL IN YOUR NAME.
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YOU CAN NOW ALSO FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @ KNYSNA ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY
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