OCTOBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

Dear Supporters,

In this newsletter, we’re taking the opportunity to introduce our new Committee to you, our members and supporters, and to give you a glimpse of our priorities for the next year.
Looking back for a moment, 2020 has been a really challenging year for everyone. Covid-19 has taken a heavy toll on our world, with animal welfare organisations like KAWS facing unimaginable problems and hardship. Thank you to Ian Shrosbree, who chaired the KAWS committee for a memorable five years, with the support of Colleen Underwood as Vice-chair (subsequently Acting Chair), the other outgoing committee members, the Kennels management and staff, and the team at the KAWS shop – all of whom led KAWS through the darkest levels of the lockdown, and gave the organisation their best.

Our grateful thanks also to the KAWS members who, as Knysna started blossoming into spring, attended the Annual General Meeting on 21 October. More than 120 people came to support the Society, and ushered in a new Committee full of enthusiasm and energy, eager to improve the lives and welfare of animals in the Greater Knysna area.

The 2020 Committee, under Chairperson Cobri Vermeulen, is committed to helping as many needy animals as possible in the Greater Knysna area, within the Society’s limited capacity and finances. We are already setting clear priorities and goals for the year ahead, and top of the list are sterilisation, adoptions and outreach, with the overarching aim of decreasing the number of animals that have to be euthanased. To succeed, we will need the backing of each and every member, volunteer, supporter and employee – and we will keep you informed of every step that we take and how you can help.

Kind regards KAWS Committee

For those of you who haven’t met the new Committee members,
some photos and info:

Hanli van Rooyen, the Vice-chairperson, is a semi-retired clinical psychologist who is happiest when she’s walking the KAWS dogs in the cemetery in the rain or introducing a KAWS dog to its new family. Her role on the Committee will be to coordinate volunteer activities and the adoption center.

Melissa Smith, Treasurer, is an active member of CAT Garden Route. Her top priority within KAWS, apart from overseeing the finances, is to drastically reduce our population of distressed domestic animals by means of a well-planned sterilisation programme.

Debbie Davies, Secretary, a deeply compassionate advocate for animals, was involved with the well-known Woodrock Animal Rescue for some 10 years. Since relocating to Knysna in 2018, she has joined KAWS’s volunteer dog walkers’ team, helped out in the KAWS shop, and started collaborating with CX Township Animals in Need.

Kirsty Hofhuis, co-founder of the Sedgefield Animal Matters, will assist with liaison between KAWS and the Municipality, with outreach activities within the Sedgefield area, and with strengthening collaboration between KAWS and other animal welfare NPOs in the Garden Route region.

Melanie de Morney will continue with the outreach and education interventions in the Bosdorp communities that she has already initiated. She will introduce a similar program in Hornlee in 2021 and plans to guide the children in these communities in caring for their family pets.

Richelle Kohn will oversee KAWS’s fund-raising and marketing activities. Her wealth management expertise, together with her volunteer work with a number of local NPOs and her compassion for animals in need of care, will serve the organisation well in this portfolio.

Susan Campbell, familiar to many of us in Knysna for her energetic role in Knysna’s local affairs, has accepted responsibility for KAWS’s legal matters. Her informed and steady vision will provide guidance within an environment where strong emotions often prevail.