At the very end of last month, October, Stanley went off to Transkei on a Mission where he assessed and assisted 26 horses (Thbs and Cross breeds) in Berlin, and in Qunu and in Ngcobo 27 horses mostly for farriery issues and 3 horses in Kingwilliamstown for deworming before returning home safe and sound.
We started off with collecting two Protea Childrens Home donkeys from Maranatha Street Childrens Home and returning them to Protea. Luckily it was not too far away!
Rechecks started up again on our Adopted out Horses and donkeys as well as Complaints Received. Takes time sometimes to get to where you need to be!
A motorist Complaint of a stray donkey on Cape Road was not found. If they are on the move, you generally cannot find them by the time you get there!
A very smoky weekend for Port Elizabeth meant we were checking up on some of our old friends to find out if they were ‘safe’. It turned out that the smoke was all the way from the Garden Route fires. Quite scary! Visions of a replay of the previous fires.
Stanley received a report of a horse on the back of a trailer, but when he finally found them on the highway, he checked and at least the footing was secure.
The first of our three Court Cases took up two days and was mediated by the Public Prosecutor to approval of all, but the situation will be continually monitored.
Our second of three Court Cases most definitely did not go our way! So much for Animal Justice! The three greys have been returned to their owner in much better condition than they were when they were confiscated, much to our disgust. Again, monitoring will continue.
And then Lady, one of our adopted out donkey jennies was gaffed on the foreleg by her pet pig! Parent beside himself with worry. Carla and I visited and cleaned it up and administered a Penicillin shot. Both pig and donkey now fine!
Stanley attended to a Complaint of a thin horse in Patensie. On his return the owner of the horse phoned and had a chat to Carla, and although she was willing and able to surrender the horse to us, she changed her mind and has instituted different cubes and already the horse is looking happier. Sometimes it just takes chatting to people to change the situation.
A request for a gelding received and once done, a photograph of the now gelded pony meeting up with his dam and sire with a great celebration on his return.
Unfortunately, again a Complaint of an errant donkey cart in Rowallan Park. Very difficult to find as they don’t stay around waiting for you, but it is a good thing to remember to take a photograph with your cellphone and send it to the work cellphone 072 357 2505. It just helps us a little finding the perp.
One of our Uitenhage donkey owners phoned in a panic. His donkey had been attacked by dogs, severely damaging his hind legs and more importantly, his scrotum which had been shredded. Stan did the right thing and took him directly to 9th Avenue Vet who are so used to us bringing in crazy, different stuff! The scrotum was ripped to pieces, leaving the testes dangling. So an emergency gelding was done by the Vet in the back of the horsebox! Ow wow, it must have been so painful. He was admitted to the Unit where he got nursed and at this stage, he is healing very well and should be returned home soon. (Late afterhours work for Tom and Stanley, but not begrudged.)
Our PINE LODGE donkeys got new ‘clothes’ (harnessing). Paid for!
We are in the process of receiving our first Bequest from a deceased Estate, but we have to wait for the Master of the Supreme Court in Cape Town to release it first. Exciting times!
A Complaint received and Carla attended and brought the lame donkey in for ‘puncture repair’.
Stan received an urgent call about a horse with colic and needing help as the person did not know who to call. Stanley sent on the contact numbers for 9th Avenue Vets.
A very upset and concerned donkey owner phoned and Carla picked up the call. Discussions were ongoing until the correct decision was taken to get a Veterinarian to visit. The Doctor duly arrived but the prognosis was poor and euthanasia was ordered.
And then another yell for help with a Kwanobuhe donkey. Amongst some minor wounds there was a kapmes slash on the nose for the poor fellow. But having been admitted for treatment he found himself being spoiled with carrots and bread by visitors commiserating with him and felt a lot better. Our Miracle Foam is fixing the problem well.
Due to their pony being stolen, the Lusaka owners surrendered their remaining pony and donkey jenny with a foal at foot. Sophie and Shirley brought into safety and already adopted out to a doting parent.
Then Carla took off with the horsebox to collect 3 donkeys for the Uitenhage SPCA, confiscated by them, but we are full up, so we assisted with collection and delivery to them.
On a busy weekday morning, I heard Algoa fm announcing that there were 2 donks playing on Summerstrand Road in the traffic. They had been found by Protea Children’s Home quite a distance from the Home and we assisted to load and take them back again. A new secucrity company had found the donkeys at the gate, and thinking that they would return of their own volition, opened the gate letting them ‘escape’. Transport paid, thank you!
A lame donkey was found by his parent and when Stanley visited he found a shard of glass in the hoof. Sorted
Very early on the last Sunday of the month, like 5am!, Carla, Tom and Sonny and I with 4 young strong ‘fellow me lads’ from Walmer Township, met a truck with two trailers, packed to the hilt with 900 bales of Teff! Thank goodness it was a cool foggy morning (it would have been frightful to unload in a hot sun!). SUCH a magnificent donation! We were overjoyed to be the benefactors of such munificence, organized by BFF Mark. Our overwhelmed thanks to Dale Stonebridge, Ken Hall, Rite Aid Health Care, Raymond Danielson, Graham Cox, Phumelela Gaming and Leisure, Studio 88, Neil Pretorius, Emma Rorke, Team Crabbia, Isiswe Catering, Stonebridge Family, Hall Family, John Finlayson, Ray Danielson, Graham and Penny Cox, SF Logistics
And finally for the month of November, Stanley undertook another visit to the Berlin Races in Transkei. Always a big occasion but while there were thousands of people at the Race, ‘work’ was easy as there was little to no problems that Stan could not handle.
DONATIONS OVER THE PAST MONTH FOR WHICH WE THANK YOU!
Samantha – 4 Lucerne.
Helena - donated carrots
Jan – delivered truckload gravel
Anne – bread from 9th
FEED n SEED – donated tack dropped off at the shop
Cara – Donated her show winnings 4 bags cubes
Treloar – donated blanket
LAKATO – donation of shampoo and fly spray
Glynis – donation R100
Cassie - deposit in bank account R500 being the proceeds of ‘lost’ golf ball sales!
Julia – 50 grassmix.
Janine– donated carrots.
Volunteers – Kyla, Tiaan, Jeandre, Lesley and Allan, Hildegard, Amy, Eugene, Lee Anne, Eugene and Robin, Anke and Cara, Jenna, Jana and Reuben carrots and R200 donated.
Banking Details: Standard Bank Account 080733875, Code 0512001. Reference: Your name or project
Facebook: EAST CAPE HORSE CARE UNIT
Contact numbers Office cellphone 072 357 2505
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