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Dear Readers and faithful friends,

After a number of years of wonderful blogging, this blog has effectively become dormant - except for occasional updates regarding my book, MAXDOG. I have left this blog as a legacy to my dog and a place of sanctuary where we can reflect upon his life. Take your time, peruse the pages spanning Max's 18 months in cyberspace. Feel refreshed and uplifted because his story is an amazing one of..."LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX!"
My activities have now moved on to my new blog entitled "LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX". Please join me there where you can read about my family and canine companions. I also invite you to visit MAXDOG's FANPAGE on FACEBOOK. You can follow the specific links by clicking below:

* 'LIVING LIFE TO THE MAX: click HERE
*MAXDOG'S FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: click HERE
* MAXDOG, the book: click HERE

If you would like to follow me on a deeper, spiritual level, then I invite you to visit my more personal blog:

May God bless you and thank you for following me!
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

MAXDOG's CHRISTMAS TRIBUTE

Friday, May 14, 2010

"THE SOCIETY FOR ANIMALS IN DISTRESS"...YOUR beneficiary!

GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!!!
MAXDOG here... 

Hello there to all our friends across the globe.

Today's post is rather a long one and is all about where
YOUR DONATIONS have gone.
It is a kinda 'report back' but really important one!
So please grant us some lee-way..
Do you remember this?....

Yes, it is me with my MAX-TERPIECE!

(You can read all about this amazing gift from our blogging friends by following the leads in the Right Hand Side Bar)

Well, many of you will know that there were additional funds from this incredible gift from my cyber-buddies and that we chose to donate that extra R1000 to the:
SOCIETY FOR ANIMALS IN DISTRESS.
here in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This is an organisation which does amazing charitable Veterinary work in some of the poverty stricken townships around our city.

Well, as a result of YOUR GENEROUS DONATION, Maxmom was invited to their head office and farm so that I would be able to tell you all about where your funds have actually gone.

On Tuesday this week, Maxmom went along with a friend and they spent a couple of hours graciously being shown around by the General Manager of this organisation.
I would love to share some of Maxmom's visit with you all...

There was a special doggie-buddy there to greet Maxmom on their arrival...

"BOB",
originally came from one of the townships and has turned into the most amazing 'educational' dog for many of the Society's activities.

Maxmom decided that she had to purchase one of the Society's T-shirts. (which you will see in the pictures below). The general manager, Heather Muller, spent a lot of time with Maxmom carefully expaining the Society's activities and vision...

The SOCIETY FOR ANIMALS IN DISTRESS has been active since 1958.
Their primary function is to provide Veterinary assistance and care to communities who are challenged by poverty and ignorance.  The Society has a Mission:

"Protecting Animals, Healing their Sickness, Fighting Ignorance, Empowering Others to do the same."

They have a number of mobile clinics which visit poverty stricken townships on a daily basis and they also have an educational programme which has been implemented in 63 schools around Johannesburg.
Their activities rely entirely on donations!

Maxmom's visit to their farm on Tuesday brought a whole new understanding about their wonderful work.  Maxmom says that there is an ambience of love and care which permeates the whole facility. It truly is the most loving environment and the animals look extremely well cared for!

Maxmom's first point of call were the horses who come from coal yards in the townships to heal. They are brought to the centre to foal as well as to recover from any illnesses. These horses usually carrying heavy carts of coal.  Although Maxmom is generally scared of horses, these were really friendly. This is a mare and her foal..

Another friendly face...
Below is Heather Muller:
the general manager of the society, with one of the horses...

Maxmom  again...
There are numerous horse stalls at the facility as well as enclosed areas for the various animals.  Some sheep...
A resident goat...
This was a really delightful character...

Maxmom couldn't help a closer picture of his eye...

As they came around the corner, on the way to the centre's hospital, there was a surprise.

Heather told us that they haven't had sufficient funds to build state-of-the-art equine theatres, so the operations have to take place on the lawn next to the hospital. It is important to note that ONLY  Equine surgery takes place outside. Whilst Maxmom was there, there were numerous operations taking place on the premises. The vets here do many castrations, neuterings and spayings. This was one of the donkeys being attended to...

The girl with the blond hair is a veterinary student from Sweden who is doing voluntary community work.  This operation had two vets in attendance, a veterinary nurse and numerous assistants.

Heather explained that it was 'operating day' and that she was going to take us to see what was happening inside the Animal Hospital. She also prepared us by explaining that the centre was in dire need of a 'recovery room' for their patients...

Inside one of the theatres:
The dogs which you see on the floor are in the process of recovery.

 
Inside another theatre...
This little doggie (below) was waiting for her operation.
(The hospital attends to many orthopedic cases as a result of animals being run over by cars, etc, etc)
It should be said, at this stage, that
the Society is NOT a rescue facility!

All the animals you see actually belong to owners who struggle with affordability and who have voluntarily released them to the society in order to heal or to be sterilized. Despite being poor, the owners of the animals do contribute financially to their care.

This sweet little doggie (below)was waiting for the Vets to correct his inverted eyelids.
He is a dog who was handed over to a domestic worker whose owner no longer wanted him because of his condition...
When Maxmom came out of the hospital, the donkey (who had his operation) was coming around from his anaesthetic.  
Although still very dopey he was being well attended to by one of the staff..
Maxmom and her friend were then taken to see the doggie kennels.
Again, ALL the dogs have owners to which they will be returned once they are better.
Maxmom was surprised by how well they were all socialised. 
Heather explained that in the townships there are no walls so the animals have learned to get along with each other.

Here is Maxmom saying "Hello" to "HAPPY" - a rescued dog who has turned into an amazing educational ambassador which they now use in the school programme. 
(The only reason he is confined is because there are operations in progress on the lawn.  Usually he is free to roam the farmyard.
This is the 'orthopedic' kennels. 
The animals here are all recovering from their operations.
The donkey enclosure...

...and this is "HEATHER THE DONKEY".
Yes, you guessed it...she is named after the general manager and is a really friendly donkey.
Maxmom fell totally in love with her...
So there you have it!
This is where ...
YOUR DONATION HAS GONE!!!
Thank you so much again for your generosity.
"Thank you"...
 to Heather and the staff for your hospitality and for taking the time to show your donors what you are doing with our money!!!

If you want to know more about the
SOCIETY FOR ANIMALS IN DISTRESS
please visit them
(and feel free to contribute in any way you can)

Sending lotsaluv to you all and wishing you a happy and comfortable weekend.
MAXDOG IN SOUTH AFRICA

26 comments:

Heather and Kelly said...

Oh, how lovely! What a great place, I loved your tour!

All the animals look so well cared for, and what a great team of people committed to helping them.

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

What an amazing organisation! Thanks so much for showing us around, MaxMom!

MySpecialDoggies said...

Hi Caryl
Thank you for sharing - what a wonderful organization!

Hugs/licks from
Nadine, Apples & Neeli

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Looks like a great place for the animals. Thank you for taking us along for a tour.

Sam & June

Two French Bulldogs said...

Wow Max, thank you for the information.Very interesting
Benny & Lily

Jacqueline said...

A lovely, wonderful facility; what a great place to help out with your donation...I'll never understand people who give their animals up because they just don't want them anymore=medical condition or not...Hope you all have a happy weekend together...Love and kisses to my South African friends.

Amy & the house of cats said...

That sounds like such a great place to help out the people who want to help out their animals but can't. It is great that they are able to do these things!

Sending you lots of purrs and prayers!

Jans Funny Farm said...

Very interesting place. A good choice for your donation.

Moose said...

What a wonderful place! It is clear that they put every penny to use for the animals and that is wonderful. Education is an important thing for animals in the long run too so I appreciate that. Well done!

Mrs. JP said...

I'm so glad you gave them the money. They are doing such a great service. There is a dog that lives a couple miles from us and she has litter after litter because the owners won't or can't afford to have her fixed. It's so unfair to her. I've been tempted to temporarily kidnap her, have her fixed and then return her. They don't sell the puppies (God only knows what happens to them) because she is a mutt. Good post!

Sheila and Bob said...

What a wonderful place and what a great tour you gave.
We Max, Tammy & King Toffee would like the donkey to join the family, hint, hint.......

Hamish & Sophie, and Mom & Dad
Sheila & Bob

houndstooth said...

What a cool place! It sounds like you chose wisely for your donation recipient!

Bunny

sprinkles said...

This is an excellent choice for the additional contributions to go to! It sounds like a really special place. Thanks for the tour!

Sunny,Scooter, (sometimes Jamie) said...

Thanks for the tour. What a wonderful thing to do with the extra money.
Big Hugs to you Caryl.
Sunny,Scooter & Jamie too

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Thank you for showing us this tour.
Thank you for helping them help those who need help.
love
tweedles

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

It is the perfekht choice fur the surplus funds -

Excellent!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra & Her Mom

Donna said...

Luv u, Max. Hugs!!

Asta said...

Max and MaxMom

What a fantastic owganisation. Thank you so much fow showing us and also fow the donation to such a wowfy owganisation.
so many dedicated hoomans ..it made Mommi and me feel vewy wawm inside to see it. Thank yu so vewy much

I hope you'we feeling well Max Sending ouw love and my healing smoochie kisses
ASTA and Mommi

Chester said...

It's always refreshing to hear of people who spend their time helping animals and their families instead of so much of the bad things done to animals. What a great organization to help people who could not otherwise take care of their pets properly.

Nice of you to share your visit with such great pictures (as usual)

Chester's Mom ;0-)

Molly the Airedale said...

What a wonderful place and a great choice for the donation! Thank you for the tour. Those donkeys sure are cute!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

kks said...

wow, what an operation and thanks for the tour....helping animals in need (and owners) is a world wide issue...one that will never be complete....a daunting thought, but we all do what we can to help!
xoxo
kisses to big handsome (MD) :)

Scout and Freyja said...

As someone who has been in rescue and animal welfare for years this post was so informative and so much fun to read! It looked like the perfect day to spend with animals - sunshine. I bet when you got home you were thoroughly sniffed and checked over by all the dogs. You were a living newspaper!

Angus said...

That is just so sweet. The adverts for the World Cup have now started to appear on television here.I've asked the Mongeese to make sure that when they're in RSA for the football that they ensure another donation finds its way to the centre. They view it as Digby's way of saying thank you to Max for teaching good grace in adversity!

Kathleen Coy said...

Thank you so much for the tour, Caryl!! Isn't it wonderful to know that there are so many loving, caring people in the world...

Much love,
Kathleen and Cloud

the booker man said...

awesome! what a grrreat place!! thanks for sharing your tour with us. :)
*woof*
the booker man

Valerie Cummings said...

Oh Im so glad you chose them to give the donation too! Thank you for such a wonderful tour!!!! They do a lot of great work there!!!!! Hugs Joey and Kealani