A calling to care for animals

• Published date: 13 December 2023
• Author: Carmen Jacobs Carmen.Jacobs@acm.co.za
• Publication title: Bolander

Accompanying Claire Knoop, on one of her animal welfare outreaches to the areas of Pinetown, Rasta Camp, Riemvasmaak, Sun City and other areas in SLP; the pressing need for what she does and the impact thereof on the community, is evident

On the day of Bolander’s visit, she was treating three puppies that had been so badly infested with worms to the point of being immobile. Two of them were on the road to recovery and could move a bit, while the other one was still unable to walk.

“The kids who own the mom brought these to me in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village and they have suffered from toxicity brought on by the worm infestation. I’m helping them get better and as part of the deal we will need to sterilise the mom. I make that part of the deal with any dog that I help, they must agree for me to have the mom sterilised,” she said.

The issue of dogs not being sterilised is a huge problem and Ms Knoop said they have recently been fortunate enough to benefit from the work done by non-profit organisation, Dancers Love Dogs (DLD). This year DLD with their annual fundraiser − a dance production at the Baxter theatre − also contributed to help the dogs in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village by sponsoring 100 sterilisations.

Besides the issue of sterilisations, the other side of the coin relating to promoting animal welfare, she says is to educate people on how to care for pets and getting them to see pets as deserving equal care and respect and not just perceived as a “watchdog” left neglected outside.

This is why she and her partner, James Smart, a dog trainer, started teaching the children and young people how to train their dogs. “Our goal with this is to start them young by teaching the kids how to train their dogs. In those who get it right you can see the difference it makes and the respect they show to the animals.” She says the concept of dogs obeying their commands makes the children see them in a new light, and not just as an animal.

One of the participants in the training your dog programme is Craig Flusk, a young resident of Pinetown. Commenting on how he finds the training, Craig says it’s satisfying to work with dogs.

“For me it’s something new and interesting now when my dog, Venom, listens to me and does what I tell him to.”

About Ms Knoop he says: “She is very helpful in our community, and we are grateful for the work she does.”

In her work, which she does voluntarily, Ms Knoop has been called out to cases of severely injured, emaciated, diseased, horribly...