HOLLY……..
A STORY OF ABANDONMENT
It's the 22 December 2009, just three days before Christmas. All over there is excitement in the air and the shops are bustling with people frantically buying last minute goodies and gifts.
On the R27 West Coast road, near Atlantic Beach Golf Estate, a different scenario is playing itself out. A mother dog and her 12 week old puppy have been dumped at the Total Garage. Animals get dumped all the time, but at Christmastime this shocking occurrence seems to escalate and hundreds of animals find themselves alone, afraid and hungry, awaiting their fate.
The mother dog was nothing special; she looked like any average cross-breed dog, medium in size, but thin, with a short, tan, tatty coat; her poor condition due to malnutrition and having to feed a litter of puppies. On the other hand, her puppy was cute, as all puppies are. A passing motorist soon picked up the pup, an unexpected Christmas present for the family, no doubt, leaving the mother dog totally alone in the world. For days she stayed in the same position, only venturing into the car park, expectantly rushing up to cars which she thought she recognized - her owners coming to fetch her? But she soon realised that it wasn't her master and dejectedly retreated again to the same spot where she had been dumped.
Then, on 24 December, a lady pulled into the petrol station and noticed the mother dog as she lay on the grass verge outside the shop. The dog looked up, ever-hopeful, and ran towards the car, but soon turned around and sadly returned to her "spot". This procedure had happened countless times over the past few days, according to the shop stewards, when the lady enquired. They told her that the dog and her puppy had been dumped days before and that her puppy had been taken by a passing motorist.
The lady, Helga, immediately took pity on the mother dog and bundled her into her car, re-assuring her that she would find help for her. It was late on Christmas Eve and all the Animal Shelters were closed. Helga was leaving on holiday early Christmas Morning and needed to find somewhere for the dog to go. She searched the internet and found the website of TEARS.
The SMS came through at 06h00 on Christmas Morning and read in part: "Good Morning and Merry Christmas! I hope it's not too early, but last night we picked up a doggy at a filling station"………………………………………."Can you help? An hour later the mother dog, which we named Holly, arrived at my home, delivered by a grateful Helga. Later that morning she was taken to TEARS where she would receive veterinary treatment, be spayed and once re-habilitated, be put up for adoption.
From the start we could see that she was a special dog, maybe not in looks but certainly in personality. She became a firm favourite with the dog walkers and so enjoyed and appreciated all the attention she received. With good food and medical treatment she began to pick up weight and within a month her coat was glossy and fully restored.
Three months after her rescue, Holly found a special "forever" home with the Parker's, who already have a TEARS dog. Holly was a surprise Birthday gift for their five year old daughter, who couldn't contain her excitement when they came to fetch her. What a heartwarming sight it was, seeing Holly leaving our premises with her new, caring family.
The Cape Argus featured the story of Holly's rescue on 29 December (see story on our website) and Helga responded by writing a letter to the Cape Argus which was published on Friday January 15 2010. It read:
TEARS, you are amazing
On DECEMBER 29, the Cape Argus published the story about Holly, the dog rescued at a filling station on the R27. I am the motorist who picked Holly up on Christmas Eve. When I read the most recent article, my eyes welled up with tears - not out of sadness, as on the day I left her with a TEARS volunteer, but because of joy, for Holly.
I think it is only appropriate to sing the praises of the TEARS volunteer who, by the time I contacted her early on Christmas morning, had been up the entire night with an emergency rescue as well. These people do it for the love of it.
These volunteers are the unsung heroes who are often forgotten when good things come from tragic situations such as these. We owe TEARS a very big thank you. Without dedicated people such as the TEARS volunteers, where would Holly and I have gone on Christmas morning?
Helga Pheiffer ,Cape Town
We made a courtesy call to the Parkers to find out how Holly has settled in. Belinda Parker advises that Holly is relaxed, has settled in so well; that she is wonderful and gorgeous and they just love her. Her favourite places to go running are the Noordhoek Common and Noordhoek Beach.
What a lovely ending to a story with such a sad beginning. Just makes our work so worthwhile!
