25/10/2024
NEWSFLASH: Elmarie Celliers of Roodewal Kennels Apologises to the Schnauzer Community! Roodewal Kennels in Ermelo has been shut down. It was exposed by the schnauzer community as a large miniature schnauzer puppy farm empire, with Elmarie Celliers at the top doing the marketing with many other breeders contracted to supply miniature schnauzer puppies to the Roodewal Kennels. Since March 2015, between Schnauzer Friends South Africa and the SPCA's there were over 280 breeding ex Roodewal Kennel breeding stock schnauzers sterilised and rehomed into loving homes. Some were confiscated under the Animal Protection Act after a raid on the breeders premises and many others were voluntarily surrendered by the contract breeders after the marketing channels were shut down.
At Roodewal, the dogs were found in appalling conditions, lived in wire cages and slept in rat infested holding areas. The kennels were found to be filthy and some of the dogs were sleeping in their own faeces. While being kept as breeding machines the dogs were found to have many ailments and illnesses due to the lack of care, typical of a puppy mill. They had little human contact, while being locked into the Roodewal breeding cycle. Many were emotionally broken and need extensive rehabilitation and medical care. http://www.schnauzerfriendsza.com/spca-article.html
After the SPCA did not prosecute, the Schnauzer Friends community stood together and launched a community class action against Roodewal Kennels which achieved this positive outcome.
http://www.schnauzerfriendsza.com/class-action.html
Over the last few months, Schnauzer Friends South Africa have been engaging with various stakeholders to work out the best way to proceed to get justice for the people and schnauzers that were hurt by Roodewal Kennels. We chose the reconciliatory option which was to work with Elmarie Celliers and her representatives to work out how to achieve a better outcome for the community and the schnauzers.
We requested the following from Elmarie Celliers:
a) An Acknowledgment to what she had done wrong
b) An Apology to all the people and schnauzers that she hurt over the years
c) A Thank you to all the people who had assisted with the rescue and rehoming project. This included the SPCA, Schnauzer Friends South Africa, Woodrock Animal Rescue, the schnauzer community, all the adopters, the vets who assisted etc.
d) A donation to schnauzer rescue to assist us with rescue costs and sterilizations going forward. We felt that this would provide additional resources to to be able to assist rescue dogs in need going forward, and also to enhance the lives of many dogs into the future.
Elmarie Celliers agreed to this reconciliatory option and we have recently received a letter, signed by her, containing the acknowledgement, apology, thank you and the pledge to donate some funds to rescue.
APOLOGY
I, Elmarie Celliers, hereby state that:
1.I apologise unconditionally to my family members, clients and all persons who may have suffered any prejudice or harm as a result of the way in which I conducted my business known as Roodewal Kennels.
2.I further apologise to all the schnauzers who may have suffered whilst homed at Roodewal Kennels or at one of the Roodewal Kennel contract breeders.
3.I would also like to thank the SPCA, Woodrock Animal Rescue and Schnauzer Friends South Africa for assisting in the adoption process, their efforts are greatly appreciated.
4.I would further like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have, out of the kindness of their hearts, adopted the schnauzers and provided them with loving forever homes.
5.I would further like to thank all the people, including but not limited to the vets, voluntary workers, and Schnauzer Friends Rescue Team and the entire Schnauzer Friends South Africa Community for their assistance in the rehoming project.
6. Lastly, as a token of my appreciation for all the assistance given in respect of the rehoming project, I will make a donation to schnauzer rescue to assist with rescue costs and sterilizations going forward. This will assist rescue dogs in need, and also to enhance the lives of many dogs into the future.
DATED at ERMELO on this the 27th day of SEPTEMBER 2015.
SIGNED BY ELMARIE CELLIERS
To view the closure letter to our community, including more information about the path we chose, the contribution by Elmarie Celliers please visit our website
http://www.schnauzerfriendsza.com/justice-for-the-dogs.html
Elmarie Celliers has also confirmed that she has ceased all dog breeding operations at Roodewal Kennels and that she will not conduct, run, manage, partake or be involved, directly or indirectly, in dog breeding in any way whatsoever going forward.
The entire Schnauzer Friends community played an important role in obtaining closure for the Roodewal Kennel project. So a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you. By standing together we have made a difference to these schnauzers lives!
Schnauzer Friends South Africa will continue to be a voice for the voiceless. We will continue to educate our community and to expose puppy farms and unethical breeders.
