Written by Ilze Smit, CEO of Animal Welfare Society Overberg (AWSO)
Professional photography by elysian
During one of Animal Welfare Society Overberg’s sterilisation days, it was decided to go out to the municipal dumps where many dogs live. Maizy, along with all her siblings, was picked up and taken to the sterilisation room.
Bernadette Fernandes, an animal lover from Cape Town, came to help us that day. The moment she saw Maizy, it was love at first sight and she wanted to adopt Maizy right there. We returned to the dump site to look for Maizy’s owner. The owner agreed that we could keep Maizy and give her a better life. Bernadette went home and after a week decided to pick up Maizy. From that day on, Maizy never looked back. Literally from dump dog to the queen of the house.
We hope that Maizy’s story will bring happy endings for the other 18 dogs in our care. They all really deserve a second chance.
Bernadette, Maizy’s guardian, shares...
I’m an animal lover and an animal protector, and although I work full time, have a family and minimal spare time, my heart’s passion is animal rescue. I’ve known Ilze from AWSO a few years and assist with food and collections in any way I can.
On one of our homeless dogs Sterilisation Days, Maizy was one of 22 dogs we caught living starved on the rubbish dump in Villiersdorp. This isn’t for the faint-hearted. There was a thin golden dog, frightened and lying in a cage, awaiting the unknown. After her procedure, I decided to bring her home to rehabilitate and try to home.
Rehabilitating abused, abandoned and scared animals is a very difficult journey. Maizy has gun pellets stuck in her neck and lower back spine area from being shot at when she was young. She had mastitis from giving birth to her puppies (who knows what happened to them). She had a few sticks and leaves in her tummy when we opened her up to sterilise her and she was completely starved, but Maizy’s story shows that we must never give up.
I brought her home; she was petrified. After weeks of rehabilitation with me, she slowly started to eat, slowly started to trust, slowly started to feel safer and slowly started to heal her broken heart and body.
One year later, Maizy is the light of my family. We chose to keep her, and she now has a golden thick coat, is nourished, a bit chubby, and the most affectionate/loving dog one could ever ask for.
My husband isn’t a big dog lover, and Maizy changed something inside his soul. He wanted to keep Maizy! They have a bond so great that they sleep together, snuggle on the couch, and Maizy has a huge place in his heart. He even sings to her!
On weekends, Maizy climbs into my daughter’s bed where they just chill. Maizy just knows who needs a love and she’s there.
Animals can teach us something that humans can’t. Maizy has taught me courage, to live in the moment, love unconditionally, and to be yourself. To have hope and, most importantly, to encourage everyone to home a rescue animal. Trust me, you need them as much as they need you.
Thank you to Ilze for the amazing work done by AWSO, and thank you to my family, friends and the residents of Summerwood who helped with Maizy’s journey and continue to support my work helping my animals in need.
