Just last month, we featured the Mdzananda Animal Clinic and the brave and wonderful staff who work there. The stories they shared were so heartwarming, that we decided to share this special story about a rescued Pit Bull named Daisy-Mae.
In March 2016, the Mdzananda Animal Clinic received a call from a distressed Khayelitsha community member about an emaciated Pit Bull who was used for breeding purposes and was badly neglected.
“At Mdzananda, we believe that education is of utmost importance. Confiscating one pet will simply result in a new pet filling its place, experiencing the same or worse conditions,” explains Marcelle du Plessis, Fundraising and Communications Manager. “Our approach is to first attempt education and to work with the owners on changing their mind-set. Many people are open to this, but unfortunately some are not.”
After their attempt to work with the Pit Bull owner failed, Mdzananda partnered with the SPCA inspectorate team to place the owner on the SPCA investigations list, to ensure repeated negligent treatment of animals wouldn’t occur. And so, the Pit Bull’s road to recovery started at Mdzananda.
At first a shy dog and unsure of humans, it took Enzy (as she was named by the staff) some weeks to pick up weight and learn to trust humans. Her stay at the clinic lasted seven months in total and in the first few critical weeks, she received daily checkups, medication, good nutrition and real care – for the first time in her life. During her time at the clinic, her confidence grew slowly; she started trusting humans and made friends with the staff, following them around.
“Unfortunately finding a home for her was not easy,” says Marcelle. “She was ready to be adopted after three months of being with us, but the right home did not come along. Towards the end of her time at Mdzananda, she fell into a deep depression from being in a kennel for so long. A desperate video appeal was released on Facebook.”
Along came Monique Quénet from Benoni, Johannesburg, who saw the video and immediately contacted Mdzananda to adopt her. “Enzy and her heartbreaking history were in the past. To celebrate her new start I gave her a new name: Daisy-Mae,” says Monique. “Our journey together has not been easy. Initially when I tried to touch her she cowered. It took a lot of time and patience to earn this girl’s trust. One day when I got home from work, instead of being looked at with suspicion, I got a happy dance. Daisy-Mae was excited to see me.”
From that day on, the relationship between Monique and Daisy-Mae blossomed and over time she turned into an energetic, loving dog that adores children, and loves playing in the local park and being touched by everyone who passes her. “I am pretty sure she has it in her head that her role in life is to show every person that Pit Bulls are the most lovable, misrepresented dogs on earth,” says Monique.
Although her life started with tragedy, due to the staff at Mdzananda’s dedication and care, and Monique’s open heart, Daisy-Mae got her happy ending. This is just one of the many stories that make Mdzananda Animal Clinic and the people who work there and those who support them, a symbol of hope in the community.
