Written by Jolanda Spies, Adoptions Officer at Bellville branch of Animal Anti-Cruelty League
Professional photography by Shuttermutts Pet Photography
The filthy grey bundle of matted fur wrapped up in a blanket looked more like an old rug you’d throw out than a dog. But underneath that unkempt exterior was an adorable little poodle with a heart of gold.
Neglected and unwanted
Our good friends at Raise ’n Rescue were busy with an outreach in the impoverished area of Elsie’s River, near Cape Town, when locals came to tell them about an old dog that looked terrible. When the owners arrived with their neglected little dog, the team was horrified.
The owners signed her over, relinquishing all ownership, and Raise ’n Rescue WhatsApped me a photo of the poor thing, asking if AACL Bellville could help. Of course, without hesitation, I said: “BRING her!”
We love special cases like this, and, while she was on her way to AACL, we readied all the grooming tools, towels, and a bath for her. As they swept in with their scared patient, she was rushed off to theatre where we tried to make head or tail of this bundle of matts.
The makeover
The little dog was amazingly tolerant while we were snipping off huge matts of grimy fur from all over her body. All four of her tiny feet were totally covered by lumps of hard, dirty bundles of fur.
As we cut, dozens of fleas were scattering out of their safe hiding spots. Her nails were badly overgrown, and she had sores all over her skin where the matts had pulled and she’d scratched herself. We ended up shaving her down to the skin – there was just not one inch of fur that wasn’t matted and crusted.
Slowly but surely, a small, thin old body appeared from her grey “jacket”.
Then it was time for a nice bath. While we soaped and rubbed her thin body, she closed her big, dark eyes, enjoying every moment of the warm water and massage. Next was clipping the nails and doing the final touch-ups.
This grey dog had turned into a white one!
She’d lost all her front upper and bottom teeth, so she had to eat soft food. We were fortunate to have had some very good food donated to us, which we soaked to make sure she received all the nutrients she needed. Her health was checked and she was declared elderly but healthy.
Since this little old lady was much too fragile to keep in our kennels, she went into foster care, from where she was happily rehomed to Rosa and her husband, where she’ll live happily ever after.
WELCOME HOME, OUNOOI
By Rosa Human
Before I can tell you the story of Ounooi, I have to go back to the beginning where it all started.
Piles of poodles
Three years ago, we were a very happy family with our two Maltese Poodle kids, Seuntjie and Tikkies. When Tikkies got cancer at the age of 16 years, we were devastated as she was our baby; we were heartbroken when she passed away, and Seuntjie couldn’t cope with her loss.
I looked at all the shelters for another Maltese Poodle baby and met Karin Heydenrych, at that time an AACL Bellville volunteer. She told me about Olive, a little dog with one eye. It was love at first sight, and Lyfie, as we call her, came to stay. Then I came across Kleintjie at Worcester animal shelter. I had to adopt her – there was just something about this little one, and she made my heart whole again. I never thought I could love so much.
Next came Lilly, a black Poodle with many growths who was found in the field; although I thought I just couldn’t go through losing another baby with cancer, I couldn’t say no. Karin brought us Oupatjie, an elderly skin-and-bones fur child with a great smile; we were told he didn’t have long to live but was with us for another two years. Our little family grew by one more with the arrival of Shelley (Michelle) – Elna at Worcester animal shelter had sent me a photo and I just knew this baby was mine.
Then, Seuntjie passed over the rainbow bridge at the age of 19. Our last link with Tikkies was now gone; we were in mourning again and decided: no more fur kids. But, of course, that’s not what happened...
She reminded me of Kleintjie
I was scrolling through Facebook when this fur child’s picture popped up. My heart just dropped: she looked awful and was so matted and dirty – a real fleabag.
She immediately reminded me of the photo of Kleintjie I’d seen nearly three years ago, and the tears just rolled out of my eyes. How could anyone do this to such a small, innocent fur child? Right then and there, I just knew that I could not let her go. Even though we’d promised ourselves not to adopt any more dogs, that it was too sad to say goodbye, I had to bring this dog home.
Shocked at her state
Of course, I had to run this by my husband. He was as shocked and deeply moved as I was about the state she was in. She was going to stay with a foster mom – and that was none other than Karin Heydenrych, who’d helped us adopt Lyfie and Oupatjie. Karin and I chatted about Ounooi; my husband and I chatted about Ounooi… and it wasn’t long before our new furry child joined us.
Karin brought her on a Friday afternoon so we could spend the weekend getting to know her. It was heartbreaking – Ounooi was just a tiny, shaved, petrified little scrap. If you put her in any position she would stay there, too scared to move.
Our beautiful little girl
Ounooi immediately attached herself to my husband, as every dog we’ve adopted has done; he’s a gentle giant with them. That night she slept between us in the bed, but, because she was so fragile and we were worried about possible squabbles with the other dogs, I bought a little bed for her to sleep in separately. Of course, this didn’t last for long – she wanted to be with all the other dogs on our bed.
All the dogs, from Lyfie, Lilly and Shelley to Oupatjie and Kleintjie, accepted their new furry sibling. Even Kleintjie was okay, as long as Ounooi didn’t sleep on her spot on the pillow (between me and my husband). The only time there was a minor issue was when Ounooi sniffed Lilly, who, because she can’t see or hear well, got startled and growled.
Ounooi loves food and she gobbles what she can get; most of all, though, she absolutely loves cheese. I don’t think she ever got that before, but she certainly loves it now!
She’s the oldest of all the fur kids and the smallest. For now, she has no hair and she smells pretty bad. But it’s okay because, not long from now, her hair is going to grow back and she’ll be this beautiful little girl, and the smell will be gone because she’s getting lots of nutritious food and love.
Welcome home, Ounooi!
