Written by Cheryl-Lyn Potgieter, founder of Daisy Animal Rescue Trust
For two weeks, I spent hours on the beach studying the stray Husky-mix who’d been living wild amid the dunes.
Living on the beach
There were days that May in 2018 when I was on Blouberg beach for six hours at a time just watching, waiting, hoping. Every time I spotted her grey-and-white shape flitting along, I would dash up the dunes and hop into my car.
But, rather than chase her, I would drive further away so that I was in front of her; I never once ran after her as that would have scared her away. Thanks to everyone who called me when she was spotted, I eventually knew all her locations.
Setting the trap
Now that we had an idea of how she spent her days and nights, it was time to get her to safety. Easier said than done as Sasha (as we named her) was elusive and avoided all human contact. But we knew where she slept at night, and that was where we planned to catch her.
We arranged to hire a leopard-trapping cage from the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in Grassy Park, and my sister, Debra Petry, and her husband, Jim, made the hour-long drive to fetch it.
Sonskyn Guest House in Belloy Street on the beach front kindly gave me permission to set the trap in their garden, where she used to sleep. Meanwhile, Cathandra Kilfoil had been hard at work organising a foster home for Sasha which would be ready the moment we had her; she also lent me her vehicle, which had space for the trap.
Saved by fried chicken
Our plans were made and everything was ready to go. And then I received a call: Sasha had been spotted on the golf course at Sunset Link. It was all systems go!
I immediately headed out, my heart in my throat, wondering if this was finally it but knowing that we probably had a very long wait ahead. I’d organised to stay in Cathandra’s vehicle for at least four days to watch over that trap but, as it turned out, a few minutes was all we needed.
Just as we set the trap – you will not believe it – the aroma of the fried chicken lured her straight into it! It all happened so quickly; it seemed mere moments between Sasha being spotted, rushing out, placing the bait, and the trap snapping shut. Before we could blink, we got her – it was a huge relief.
We had planned ahead, and, to our great joy, everything worked out to perfection.
She promptly fell asleep
Sasha howled like a banshee. She was not at all happy about her situation. But, once we got onto the back of the bakkie (pick-up truck) and we got going, she slowly crept toward me. I tentatively reached out my head and stroked her back all the way to her new home.
She promptly fell asleep, pressed firmly against my side. After weeks of running and hiding, she must have been exhausted. It was time for her to be safe and loved.
Home
Phillip de Beer had followed her story and offered to foster Sasha when she was caught. We headed straight there with her, delivering her safely into their care. Today, she is a much-loved family member and is very attached to his 12-year-old son whom she follows everywhere. She sleeps beside him all night and they have an amazing bond.
All I can say is thank you to each and every one for assisting in getting Sasha to a safe and happy home. I’m so grateful knowing that she’s now safe.
Special thanks go to the SPCA for the trap, Debra and Jim for always assisting me, and Cathandra for all her amazing help.
A BEAUTIFUL BOND
By Phillip de Beer, Sasha’s new owner
Sasha’s story had been followed on the Sunset Beach and Tableview groups on Facebook for three weeks. Having followed the unfolding story, I posted that I would be prepared to foster her and possibly adopt her if she was caught. Finally, four weeks after her story first appeared on Facebook, Sasha was caught; she arrived at our home the same evening.
She was very nervous and unsure of the adults and hid behind the couch. Once Cheryl-Lynn and her awesome team left, we slowly coaxed her out and introduced her properly to the family. She immediately took to my son, Carl, who is turning 13 in August, and promptly made his bed in his bedroom her own.
From the outset, Carl has been Her Person; she follows him like a shadow and has bonded completely with him.
Sasha has come a long way since her arrival. She’s a young dog and has absolutely blossomed; she’s playful, running and jumping with Carl, and she now roams the house and garden freely. She loves having a bath, and when taken to the vet, was very good in the car. She loves to be in the house, which she’s discovered is her safe place. She has plenty of toys but, most of all, enjoys a plastic milk bottle that she carries around and chews on.
However, she’s not happy to leave the house and is far from ready to walk on a leash in public, being very nervous of cars driving past her. She’s still jumpy of loud noises and some adults.
Sasha has a way to go to be completely rehabilitated but seeing her come out of her shell on a daily basis is fantastic. She has a lovely sweet nature and enjoys all the love she’s getting.
We are very fortunate to have her and we know she’ll only go from strength to strength.
About Daisy Animal Rescue Trust
DART was founded in 2015 to help the animals in around the Melkbos area, including Du Noon and Joe Slovo informal settlements. This volunteer-run organisation is committed to voluntary care, love and protection of all homeless, abused and abandoned animals.
Find out more at www.dart.org.za and follow them on Facebook @DaisyAnimalRescueTrust (link to: https://www.facebook.com/pg/DaisyAnimalRescueTrust/about/?ref=page_internal)
