Who’s a good boy then?

Winter is almost certainly upon us, and this is the time we all love comfort food.  And not just us, but our furkids too, so watch this space, over the next few weeks we’ll be bringing you a selection of tasty treats that are so easy to make, a good deal cheaper than store bought biscuits, and full of natural ingredients.  So even if you’re not a wizz in the kitchen, try these out, your pets will love them.

Gourmet K-9 Biscuits

This recipe makes a beautiful, flaky, golden biscuit you’ll want to eat with your dog!  I know because I’ve made them.  Makes about 50.

• 50ml cup of water                                                                                                                         2 eggs                                                                                                                                                2 cups all purpose flour (I prefer to use wholewheat as its healthier)                                                                                                     325ml cups grated cheddar cheese                                                                                                   3 garlic cloves                                                                                                                              125ml vegetable oil

1. Preheat oven to 200°
2. Whisk together eggs & water in a small bowl & set aside
3. Blend flour, cheese, garlic & vegetable oil in a food processor for about 5 seconds.  Scrape the sides of the bolw and blend again.  The mix should be coarsely textured
4. Drizzle in the egg & water mixture until a dough ball forms
5. Divide dough into 2 balls
6. Knead each ball on a floured surface
7. Roll out with a rolling pin to about ¼ inch thickness
8. Cut with a cookie cutter (try to source one shaped like a dog bone) and place on a greased baking sheet
9. Bake for about 15 minutes, then turn biscuits over and bake for a further 10 minutes
10. Cool on a rack

* All recipes courtesy of MacPherson’s K-9 Cookbook

A ruff time for Fluffy

The true story of a devoted pet owner

Approximately 2 years ago I took my Fluffy(my angel baby boy), a lab cross to the vet for a routine check up/visit.  Whilst sitting in the waiting lounge I saw an advert regarding veterinary insurance for pets.  Immediately my thoughts were “I’m sure it will cost a fortune”

However, I still took a pamphlet and did indeed phone Medipet.  I was pleased and surprised to hear that the monthly premium was R170. I immediately went ahead and took a policy for my Fluffy who, at that time was a healthy dog, occasional, minor illness, nothing serious.

I had my policy for approximately 18 months and actually didn’t even use it because Fluffy was in good health.

On 04 December 2012, my Fluffy “all of sudden” fell ill.  It started with an abscess on his back…

Since then, unfortunately, my Fluffy continued to fall ill.  I spent almost the entire festive season of 2012 at the vet.  It was just one illness to the next:

Bronchitis                                                                                                                                Removal of a foreign body                                                                                                 Diarrhoea                                                                                                                                        Paw injury                                                                                                                                    Colitis                                                                                                                                        Growth removal                                                                                                                        Various bloodwork

In a short period from December 2012 until May 2013, I had to use the policy.  The vet’s costs were continuously getting higher and higher, bills started running into thousands of rands.  Honestly when your pet/baby in my case gets ill, it’s a difficult, trying time.  If I didn’t have medical aid, where would I have got R25 000 to pay the vet?

Almost weekly, claims were being submitted to Medipet.  I was falling apart, my Fluffy was ill, and money issues was the last thing on my mind.

Medipet NEVER once phoned me to QUERY a claim, claims were submitted and promptly paid in FULL!

Apart from the financial benefit, the ladies at Medipet stood by me during my trying time.

Kerry and Gina, were extremely concerned about my Fluffy, almost weekly I had email/telephone contact with Kerry, and always her caring, calm, compassionate response and attitude was consistent, her exact words were:  “Don’t worry, your claim will be paid.  You just focus on Fluffy, so long as he is ok, that’s the most important issue right now  and you must stop stressing, please take care of yourself“

Pet insurance for your pet is essential, just as you need medical aid for yourself, your pet needs it too!  It’s the best thing I did to ensure my Fluffy was given the very best medical care, without Medipet I would have been in a financial crisis!

Phone today, sign that policy agreement!  Even if your pet is healthy.

Thank You Kerry & Gina!

Medipet is the best!                                                                                                                      And a MUST have!

Please, I urge you, take the policy today, it only takes a phone call and 1 page form to complete!

No red tape!                                                                                                                                      No hassles!

Make that call  – 021 701 2023

Sgt Stubby ~ War Hero

An email in my inbox this morning prompted a little bit of research on this amazing dog.  For more information go to Sergeant Stubby , a really heartfelt and inspiring story.

Meet America ‘s first war dog, a stray Pit Bull/Terrier mix, named Stubby. He became Sgt. Stubby, was the most decorated war dog of World War I and the only dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat.  

One day he appeared at Yale Field in New Haven, Connecticut; while a group of soldiers were training, stopping to make friends with soldiers as they drilled. One soldier, Corporal Robert Conroy, developed a fondness for the dog. He named him Stubby because of his short legs. When it became time for the outfit to ship out, Conroy hid Stubby on board the troop ship.  to keep the dog, the private taught him to salute his commanding officers warming their hearts to him.

Stubby served with the 102nd Infantry, 26th (Yankee) Division in the trenches in France for 18 months and participated in four offensives and some 17 battles. The loud noise of the bombs and gun fire did not bother him. He was never content to just stay in the trenches but eagerly went out, searched and found wounded soldiers.

Stubby entered combat on February 5, 1918 at Chemin Des Dames, north of Soissons, and was under constant fire, day and night for over a month. In April 1918, during a raid to take Schieprey, Stubby was wounded in the foreleg by the retreating Germans throwing hand grenades. He was sent to the rear for convalescence, and as he had done on the front was able to improve morale. When he recovered from his wounds, Stubby returned to the trenches. After being gassed and nearly dying himself, Stubby learned to warn his unit of poison gas attacks, continued to locate wounded soldiers in no man’s land, and since he could hear the whine of incoming artillery shells before humans could, he became very adept at letting his unit know when to duck for cover.

He was solely responsible for capturing a German spy in the Argonne. The spy made the mistake of speaking German to him when they were alone. Stubby knew he was no ally and attacked him biting and holding on to him by the seat of his pants until his comrades could secure him.

Following the retaking of Chateau-Thierry by the US, the thankful women of the town made Stubby a chamois coat on which were pinned his many medals. There is also a legend that while in Paris with Corporal Conroy, Stubby saved a young girl from being hit by a car. At the end of the war, Conroy smuggled Stubby home. After returning home, Stubby became a celebrity and marched in and normally led, many parades across the country. He met Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren G. Harding. Starting in 1921, he attended Georgetown University Law Center with Conroy, and became the Georgetown Hoyas’ team mascot. He would be given the football at halftime and would nudge the ball around the field to the amusement of the fans.

Stubby was made a life member of the American Legion, the Red Cross and  the YMCA.  In 1921, the Humane Education Society awarded him a special  gold metal for his service to his country.  The medal was presented by General John Pershing. In 1926, Stubby died in Conroy’s arms. His remains are featured in “The Price of Freedom: Americans at War” exhibit at the Smithsonian in Washington DC. Stubby was honored with a brick in the Walk of Honor at the United States World War I monument, Liberty Memorial, in Kansas City at a ceremony held on Armistice Day, November 11, 2006.

Bonzo’s Story

Bonzo was bought, at 5 months old, from a vagrant, going from door to door in the Southern Suburbs, trying to sell him. He was in excellent condition, and so presumed stolen, but with no collar or microchip there was no way to prove this.

The value of his life was set at R400, and a good samaritan stepped up and paid this.  She then increased his value by having him vaccinated, microchipped and sterilized.

All Bonzo needs now is a forever home.  He is being fostered by his rescuer, but his foster mom is worried that he is going to be stolen again, as the person that sold him has been seen hanging around the house, and attempting to make friends with Bonzo.

Bonzo is now about 10 months old, he is the most beautiful black pittie cross, with white socks.  His big engaging smile melts your heart, and his exuberant, playful personality will win you over in minutes.  He is fiercely loyal, has a huge heart, loves children, gets along well with cats and other dogs, and loves long walks in the mountains and on the beach.

Bonzo is not for sale.  Although he was bought for R400, his life is worth infinitely more.  So is his happiness and security.  His foster mom does not want anything in return for him, just the knowledge that he is going to a good, happy home, and will not end up back on the street, or in a fighting ring.

If you think this gorgeous boy can fit in to your family, and you want to give him a forever home, please contact Medipet on 021 701 2023 or karin@medipetsa.co.za for further details.

Titan ~ Heaven & Earth

This story dropped into my inbox today, and after having a good cry, I knew there was no way I could just “share” this on our Facebook page.  So to reach as many people as possible, here is our blog post.  

This is an excerpt from the email I received from the Lucky Lucy Foundation, who’s volunteers need an awesomely big “thank you” for all the work they do. 

Warning: This story contains material that will make you cry

Rescue Mission – Titan. Great Dane weighing only 35kg’s (correct weight should be between 60-70kg’s). Titan was our biggest and saddest rescue of all!

Uitsig Animal Rescue and I went on a mission for the plight that Matsikama Diere Beskerming placed in Uitsig’s hands. Having to decide the fate of 7 dogs facing the lethal injection, these animals have only 7 days to live. Uitsig was called upon to help and it was decided to do a joint effort for the ‘no hope left’ ones. Titan the Great Dane, along with his friend Tango also a Great Dane, were two of those special ones. Belonging to a school teacher, they were simply never fed, the owners blatantly neglected basic needs for these giants like water and food, but above all love and care.

Tango was taken in along with the 4 other dogs. I had space for Titan (and one smaller dog), I promise you there are no words to describe how difficult it is to choose who you rescue and who not, but the moment this massive sack of bones, with not even a stitch of fat or muscle looked into my eyes I knew we had to afford him the opportunity to be happy again, to be loved, fed and cared for, in a new forever home, being shown that not all of us harm, that he can trust, that he deserves a second chance in life.

And this is exactly what we want to do and we hope our “suppawters” out there can help us realize the ultimate dream for Titan……to be the tall, proud, fat, shiny, confident and happy Dane that he is meant to be.

Being so emaciated we know we have a bumpy road ahead. He is so thin that his bones literally stretch sharply through his dehydrated flesh, that you can only imagine what hunger and pain he must feel. He began eating his tail which then turned septic, his eyes are infected, his ears and paws are covered with ticks and he has various pussy, rotten wounds all over his body. We know we can give him a second chance but we can’t do this without help.

Any help would be hugely appreciated, no matter how small, be it a monetary donation, or assistance with vet care, food, rehab or medication, including dipping, and strengthening of his immune system by building him up slowly so as to not place pressure on his fragile kidneys and liver.

If you are able to help in any way, please contact The Lucky Lucy Foundation (contact@luckylucy.org or visit their website www.luckylucy.org/), or come to the farm to volunteer to help with his rehabilitation and extra TLC.  If you can’t do any of the above, then please click share as thousands of hopeless animals have found new hope because of that share button!

Thank you for taking the time to read about Titan & Matsikama’s plea and for any further queries please email richelle@luckylucy.org.
Please contact Denay at Uitsig on denay.uitsig@gmail.com as she would also need suppawt for Tango and the other 4 too. PS Titan’s name means Heaven and Earth with great strength, intellect and importance! (R)

Have a little Faith

I received this story today, and had to share it:

This dog was born on Christmas Eve in the year 2002. He was born with  2 legs

He of course could not walk when he was born. Even his mother did not want him.

His first owner also did not think that he could survive and he was thinking of ‘putting him to sleep’.
But then, his present owner, Jude Stringfellow, met him and wanted to take care of him.
She became determined to teach and train this little dog to walk by himself.
She named him ‘Faith’.

In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement.
Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and reward for him for standing up and jumping around.

Even the other dog at home encouraged him to walk..

 

 

Amazingly, only after 6 months, like a miracle, Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward.

After further training in the snow, he could now walk like a human being.
Faith loves to walk around now.

No matter where he goes, he attracts people to him.
He is fast becoming famous on the international scene and has appeared on various newspapers and TV shows.

There is now a book entitled ‘With a Little Faith’ being published about him.
He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.

His present owner Jude Stringfellew has given up her teaching post and plans to take him around the world to preach that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul’.

 

In life there are always undesirable things, so in order to feel better you just need to look at life from another direction.

 

Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and wonder of life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SA Mast Spring Fun & Kennel Building Day

Saturday – 01 September – Spring Day – also saw the 3rd annual SA Mast Spring Fun & Kennel Building Day, held at the Academy of Math & Science in Constantia.  It was a day for for over 500 volunteers and animal lovers to come together to build and paint over 100 dog kennels for distribution in the Khayalitsha community.  After waking at 5 to turn my garage upside down in search of a claw hammer, I ventured over the mountain and met up with the rest of the MediPet team, armed and overall-ed and ready to get down and dirty building dog kennels.

We gathered all the wood sections, nails and blocks we would need, and armed with our instructions, found a sunny spot to set up and start building.  Our team of builders consisted of James, Benjamin and Travis, ranging in age from 7 to 9 years old, and while they hammered, nailed and did other buildy-type things, we supervised with abandon.  And with tea.

And an occasional foray into the hanger to beg, borrow or steal more nails.

At one point we may have encountered a snag, even though we diligently read the instructions, but a quick phone call to a local engineer put us to rights.  Thereafter our kennel was created and assembled with love and care, thanks to our collaborative efforts with

gfprojects@telkomsa.net

Once the kennel was assembled, we were sent off in search of paint.  Our team leader hadthe brilliant idea of mixing paints to create our very unique MediPet colour. This is the result  

is an organisation whos mission it is to “radically reduce the number of unwanted puppies and kittens born into communities that are unable to support and care for them, through the consistent implementation of mass animal sterilisation and primary treatments in these communities that suffer from an animal overpopulation epidemic.”

They currently work exclusively in Khayalitsha, the second largest informal settlement in SOuth Africa, with an estimated 1.6 million residents and over 100 000 cats and dogs.  Their aim is to provide free mass sterilisation, free de-worming treatments, free inoculations and skin treatments, as well as education and empowerment of residents, enabling them to have a better understanding of their pets and be able to better care for them.  Their initiative has already stimulated job creation in the community.

To date SA MAst have sterilized over 5000 cat and dog patients.  The rely on donations and sponsorship, so please spare a thought, and take a few extra minutes to visit their website and see how you can help out.  You can find them at www.samast.co.za