Irwin's Animal Rescue
There has been a lot of publicity lately regarding the Irwins Animal Rescue Centre. I was there yesterday, after receiving an email advising that the centre was opening their gates to the public as part of a rehoming campaign undertaken by a group of volunteers. As I understand the situation, they have a deadline pending the outcome of a court case against the owner, to drastically reduce the number of animals at the shelter. Should the case be finalised, the relevant authorities will decide on the fate of the remaining animals which is unlikely to be positive.
The volunteers that I met are a wonderful group of dedicated people, with the animals' best interests at heart. I know there has been much negativity, but I would like to appeal to all animal lovers not to criticise what may have happened in the past - whatever has taken place, no matter whether we agree or disagree - it is the PAST. We need to focus now on trying to get as many animals rehomed as possible by the deadline.
It is not all doom and gloom when you visit the centre - I would say comfortably that around 95% of all the dogs were interested in the people who came to see them and freely came up to the cages to be petted and enjoy the attention. Although the enclosures are not fancy, they were neat and clean with shade cloth and kennels in each of them providing good shelter. There was food in the bowls (I was there at feeding time), and as can be seen from the pictures, the water bowls were clean and full. None of the dogs were thin, in fact some were a bit chubby! There is such a variety of dogs available that there would be a dog to suit anyone's needs and lifestyle.
Please open your heart and send this appeal to anyone whom you know will not mind receiving this email. Strict adoption procedures will be followed with home checks being carried out by people with relevant experience. All animals leaving the shelter will be sterilised, vaccinated, dewormed and treated for ticks and fleas. An adoption fee will also apply to cover these costs. If you or someone you trust, can offer a loving, forever home to these very special dogs, please contact Allison on 083 269 9102 for further information. They will be hosting adoption days every Sunday from 10h00 to around 16h00 - come and visit the animals, and offer your support. They are also in need of additional shadecloth, and labour to clear some stony areas. Any other donations whether food, cash, collars, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Irwin’s will be hosting adoption days every Sunday from 10h00 to around 16h00 - come and visit the animals, and offer your support. They are also in need of additional shadecloth, and labour to clear some stony areas. Any other donations whether food, cash, collars, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Strict adoption procedures will be followed with home checks being carried out by people with relevant experience. All animals leaving the shelter will be sterilised, vaccinated, dewormed and treated for ticks and fleas. An adoption fee will also apply to cover these costs. If you can offer a loving, forever home to these very special dogs, please contact Allison on 083 269 9102 for further information.
It's entirely likely that no previous reception would have fully prepared you for the welcoming committee that awaits your first visit to Irwin's. It begins as you arrive at the main gate, quietly at first, but rising quickly as others add their voices to the pack ... barking, baying, howling, woofing, yapping, yelping and snarling.
The commotion reaches a crescendo as park your vehicle and look for the office. It's situated right in the "eye of the storm",. of course, so you take a deep breath and prepare yourself.
You proceed, somewhat tentatively, amid literally hundreds of excited hounds. Standing on hind legs, they crane and strain their necks to get a better view of this human who dares to intrude on their turf.
Destination reached, calm gradually returns ... until the next visitor arrives.
For twenty five years Irwin Animal Rescue Centre, hidden away in Walkers Fruit Farms, has been the saviour of countless animals who otherwise faced a life of abject misery and very often a cruel and painful demise.
Irwin's is unique in that the animals who are brought to the centre are nurtured back to health and allowed to live out the remainder of their lives in a caring environment at the farm. Unlike the SPCA, for instance, their survival is not dependent on whether they will be fostered by a caring human within a specified timeframe. Those animals, as we all know, are euthanaised if homes are not found within that time. It was this caveat that was to be the inspiration for the founding of the rescue centre.
At Irwin's the animals' right to life is a given, and, apart from some exceptional instances, replacement homes are never sought. Some people may not agree with these sentiments, but one fact is clear: the vast majority of these animals would have died in misery were it not for Irwin Animal Rescue Centre.
Co-founder Anne Cronje is an incredibly focused and dedicated woman who has devoted her life to rescuing abandoned, unloved, ill-treated and abused animals. She can relate tales, that, unless you are completely without compassion, will literally bring a tear to your eye. Stories of such cruelty and barbarism that really make you ashamed to be a member of the human race.
Of course, that such a place like Irwin's has to exist in the first place is a sad indictment on our society. That it is bursting at the seams just compounds the issue. For these lucky animals though, Anne and her dedicated, enthusiastic staff were on hand to give help at a critical time. Thousands, if not millions, of animals around the country are not so fortunate.
As is the case with every other animal welfare organisation in South Africa, Irwin's receives no financial backing from the government. It exists entirely on the charity of animal lovers and with proceeds from the sale of pet food, donated books, clothes and bric-a-brac that are sold from their stalls at De Deur market. It is a knife-edge battle for survival every month. With around eight hundred animals on the farm, basic running costs, which includes feed, amounts to around an incredible R60 000 per month. The added expense of medicines and vet bills can push this much higher. A further strain on finances has been the ongoing campaign to improve the aesthetics of the farm.
As mentioned, the success of any operation of this kind depends largely on the generosity of donors. Anne has devised a number of ways in which folk can contribute towards helping the animals. For instance, the sum of R25 per month will make you a Pet's Pal, R40 per month will sponsor a kennel and you can become a Garden Sponsor for R60.
Although the vast majority of animals at the farm are dogs, there are also approximately one hundred cats and varying numbers of ponies, donkeys, pigs and birds. In fact, no animal in distress is turned away.
If you feel you would like to find out more about the centre, you can. Every Sunday, excluding the last one of the month, is an open day at Irwin's. The public is encouraged, from 10am onwards, to come and visit the animals. This allows them to interact with humans and helps to restore some of the trust and faith that was so badly betrayed. Listening to Anne, it can be of great benefit to both parties.
Tel: 016 590 1255 (currently not available due to cable theft)
Cell: 082 950 4368
e-mail: irwins@goggaconnect.co.za
P.O. Box 720 Henley on Klip, 1962
