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Wow - we are hurtling towards christmas already!!!!
I am having a real battle with our internet connection, so if I am not able to upload photos on my blog, please forgive me!
Solly is back from Taung, having spent 5 days doing an assessment (and sorting out emergency interventions) on the problems there. In a nutshell, there are huge problems - over 600 horses and donkeys in 22 villages. They are emaciated, have harnessing and hobbling wounds, and have absolutely zilch to eat. Solly had heard rumours that some of the donkeys are feral, and that they raid the town of Taung at night looking for food in rubbish bins. He went out one evening to have a look, and sure enough, lots of eyes glittering in the darkness outside the shops and in rubbish bins, as well as all along the road in to town. I was horrified to see photos of some donkeys pulling carts that were so emaciated, they had open wounds on their hip bones where they brush against the donkey next to them. Home made bits are used, made of a piece of bent steel bar, which has caused deep wounds on the sides of the mouth.
It's a giant problem, and one that we are going to tackle in stages:
Step One - obtain the support of village chiefs and elders
Step Two - identify and paint-brand each donkey or horse with owner details
Step Three - all unwanted, ill, aged animals should be disposed of - the donkeys in particular seem to be of little value to the owner, and are left to run wild. The only solution that we can see, although we are unhappy about it, is for the animals that are suffering to go to the slaughterhouse. The owner will be paid, and can then start to get his animals sorted.
Step Four - try to obtain the assistance of state veterinarians to geld unsuitable stallions
Step Five - start up our clinics - education in equine welfare, practical assistance with harnessing, hobbling, and de-worming.
The problems in Taung seem insurmountable, but then we felt the same way about the donkey problem in Brits, and Trevor reports from his last field trip that there are huge improvements in the condition of the horses and donkeys there.... so it CAN be done! Can it be done on a shoetstring budget? We'll give it a good go!
Quite a number of emaciated polo ponies are in the Unit - we are monitoring the situation with the 35 odd animals remaining on the property.
We were called out urgently to Kliptown, Soweto, where a coalyard donkey had been stabbed with a hunting knife. We were unable to save her, she had been stabbed in the lung and was losing copious amounts of blood. Senseless and heartbreaking.
The yard is really busy - lots of horses being donated by people who can no longer afford to keep their precious animals just as a pet - times are hard.
Till next time,
Regards
Bev
I am having a real battle with our internet connection, so if I am not able to upload photos on my blog, please forgive me!
Solly is back from Taung, having spent 5 days doing an assessment (and sorting out emergency interventions) on the problems there. In a nutshell, there are huge problems - over 600 horses and donkeys in 22 villages. They are emaciated, have harnessing and hobbling wounds, and have absolutely zilch to eat. Solly had heard rumours that some of the donkeys are feral, and that they raid the town of Taung at night looking for food in rubbish bins. He went out one evening to have a look, and sure enough, lots of eyes glittering in the darkness outside the shops and in rubbish bins, as well as all along the road in to town. I was horrified to see photos of some donkeys pulling carts that were so emaciated, they had open wounds on their hip bones where they brush against the donkey next to them. Home made bits are used, made of a piece of bent steel bar, which has caused deep wounds on the sides of the mouth.
It's a giant problem, and one that we are going to tackle in stages:
Step One - obtain the support of village chiefs and elders
Step Two - identify and paint-brand each donkey or horse with owner details
Step Three - all unwanted, ill, aged animals should be disposed of - the donkeys in particular seem to be of little value to the owner, and are left to run wild. The only solution that we can see, although we are unhappy about it, is for the animals that are suffering to go to the slaughterhouse. The owner will be paid, and can then start to get his animals sorted.
Step Four - try to obtain the assistance of state veterinarians to geld unsuitable stallions
Step Five - start up our clinics - education in equine welfare, practical assistance with harnessing, hobbling, and de-worming.
The problems in Taung seem insurmountable, but then we felt the same way about the donkey problem in Brits, and Trevor reports from his last field trip that there are huge improvements in the condition of the horses and donkeys there.... so it CAN be done! Can it be done on a shoetstring budget? We'll give it a good go!
Quite a number of emaciated polo ponies are in the Unit - we are monitoring the situation with the 35 odd animals remaining on the property.
We were called out urgently to Kliptown, Soweto, where a coalyard donkey had been stabbed with a hunting knife. We were unable to save her, she had been stabbed in the lung and was losing copious amounts of blood. Senseless and heartbreaking.
The yard is really busy - lots of horses being donated by people who can no longer afford to keep their precious animals just as a pet - times are hard.
Till next time,
Regards
Bev
Bev Seabourne - Manager HHCU |
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Wednesday 01 September 2010 - 15:24:46
