Kalahari Heart Animal Welfare

20/11/2025

I was reading another sweetly written story of why a dog was looking for a home and thinking of the Xmas season ahead.
How so many organisations are on their knees begging for funds to look after the animals they are expecting to flood in over Dec / Jan.

While so many get ready to pack their bags and wave away their "beloved furbaby" these rescuers prepare as best they can to collect them when the calls start coming in.

When January pops around I always expected returning holiday owners to flood social media with photo's of their lost pets, coming home finding their pet gone, they will phone, walk, ride, search dusk till dawn. Nope, I would get asked if we had any puppies, I have even had people on holiday call to say that their neighbor said their dog is gone, do i maybe have a big dog I can go leave at their property because now someone might break in. No asking has anyone brought in tbeir dog or can i put out a missing dog, no, just can i replace it, asap.

My post is a bit jumbled just as my thoughts are as I go over all my years in rescue and how i am thankful i do not have that added stress anymore. The dreaded stress of holiday season where kennels burst to overflowing and you are expected to feed, clean, wash, vaccinate, vet care etc etc.
My heart goes out to all those who don't go away, who stay holding the old , the sick, the tired - the left behind.

To every welfare, rescue, we send our thanks and prayers for the season ahead, may you recieve the support you need and my hope this Christmas season is that more people consider the work you do, what you need and help you where they can.

Thankyou

19/11/2025

About a week ago Tshepo contacted me regarding his horse that was not picking up weight.
Among the things we discussed was grazing and fresh water.
Today he sent us a video of his horse and what a difference.

Tshepo has been taking him down to the river daily and letting him graze while he sits and listens to the peaceful sounds around him.

Thankyou Mary Stanford for your continued special on Desperados oil, we will be sending cbd to Tshepo as well to help your gorgeous boy further.

Well done Tshepo.

19/11/2025

I was so nervous but Debbie was absolutely amazing.
Most people who know me know I don't do the talking / interview thing, i leave that to those that can.
Again thankyou StarPet South Africa , Zandri Botma and everyone who supports this initiative.

We will share soon what we up to but so far we just sorting out little bits here and there.

18/11/2025

16/11/2025

On Friday Johannes travelled 200km to come give our rescue babies a mani & pedi and while he was here he even flated my oldest 3's teeth.

I had warned him that Klaradyn was very difficult and over the past few years most farriers had struggled, Johannes simply said, thats okay, he will talk to her.
Well i was amazed, Klaradyn loved being called, Skattebol and My liefie, she rested her head on Johannes back and was such a lady.

Dixie tried some little kicks and Johannes just told her he will let her go once then they going to work together, well he picked up her back leg again and she stood still.

Even Booboo didnt give any hassles, Watkins adored Johannes and the feeling was mutual.
Throughout the visit Watkins stayed nearby, nuzzling Johannes or just watching what he was doing.

Thankyou so very much for treating our babies so well and for coming all this way Johannes.
Thankyou to my dear friend Mary for referring him and my dear bestie Lindsay, her daughters Abi & Nikita for assisting.
You are all awesome

15/11/2025

Sharing Seeker's rescue journey over the 2 months since she's been with us. Still a long way to go but together we can make a difference

Much love
Coco
Kalahari heart partner in Mpumalanga

10/11/2025

Happy to help Rupert.

10/11/2025

09/11/2025

Lets support the small guy ❤️

Ek wil so graag my gevoelens en ervaring van die afgelope tyd neerpen.
Terwyl ek besig is om te pak vir die groot trek — en onder ongelooflike druk en stres verkeer as gevolg daarvan — flits die gedagtes deur my kop, en teen die tyd wat ek ’n pen in die hand kry, is dit weer weg.

Jy sien, Zambi is maar ’n klein spatseltjie in die groot emmer van diere rescue. En as dít my ervaring is, kan jy net d**k waardeur die groter shelters gaan.
Nou gaan ek seker soos ’n dominee klink wat oor ongeloof preek voor ’n skare gelowiges…
Die verkeerde skare, natuurlik.

Want dis nou weer silly season — en nie net oor geldmors nie.
Dis ook:
🐾 Kitten season
🐶 Puppy season
🏠 Ek kan haar nie hou nie season
🚚 Ek moet trek season
🌾 Ek het hulle in die veld gekry season
😔 Ek het hom gerescue maar kan hom nie hou nie season
✈️ Ek gaan op vakansie season
💼 Ek het my werk verloor season
🌍 Ons immigreer season
🌴 Ons kan nie aanneem nie, ons gaan eers met verlof season
🎁 Ons kan nie nou donasie gee nie, ons moet vir Kersfees en vakansie spaar season

Daar gaan letterlik nie ’n dag verby wat ek nie minstens drie tot vyf boodskappe kry van diere wat dringend ’n huis soek nie.
Dringend n ander heenkome kort nie…
Dringend hier moet weg nie…!!!!
Dringend.
Ons en daai woord… ons kom nie lekker oor die weg nie.

Dringende huise is op aanvraag.
Daar is nie aanbod nie.
’n Wanbalans.

Shelters is oorvol.
Foster-huise bars uit hul nate.
Dis ’n ontploffing-seisoen.
’n Seisoen van “unwanted”.
’n Seisoen van min fondse.
’n Seisoen van géén plek.
‘n Desperate en bitter moeilike seisoen!

En dan hoor jy: “Maar jy is dan in rescue!”
Ja… op die oomblik probeer ek myself red.

Want hier’s die ding —
’n Verantwoordelike rescuer kan slegs 200% inneem van wat hy eintlik kan bekostig om te versorg.
Ons strek altyd ons 100%.
Want ons offer 100% persoonlik op —
Nie net tyd nie, maar ook ons eie geld.
Ons kersgeskenk-geld.
Ons vakansiegeld.
Ons familie-tyd.
Ons naels en hare doen tyd en geld
Ons pluk die snor en baardhare tyd
Ons le en boeklees tyd
Ons kuier saam vriende tyd
Die enigste tyd wat ons nie bereid is om te offer nie, is die tyd wat ons op ons kniee spandeer, biddend en smekend vir n uitkoms…
‘n Antwoord
‘n Wonderwerk!

Dan hoor jy:
“Ek sal hulle bring met kos.”
“Ek sal ’n donasie maak.”
Maar wat van volgende week? Volgende maand? Volgende jaar?

En al die diere op vir aanneem…
waar d**k jy bly hulle?
Iemand sorg reeds vir hulle!
Het jy daaraan ged**k?

Intussen spartel ons hierdie kant om die beste vir die in ons sorg te kan bekostig sonder om knaend te bedel!
Ons verkoop koffie
Hou kompetisies
Run Charity shops
Werk voltyds onmenslike ure
Als om op te maak vir die gap tussen wat ons het en wat ons nodig het….

Mense skree: “Nie die SPCA nie!”
Maar daardie selfde mense — watter organisasie help húlle?
Gee hulle gereeld?

Neem hulle na die SPCA.
“Maar hulle sit uit!”
My dierbare vriend…
Nou vertel my, waar moet almal dan heengaan?
Wat is jou antwoord of oplossing?
’n “Free to a good home”-advertensie en dan hoop vir die beste?
‘n hoarder huis
‘n klein kampie iewers agter die buitegebou?
Dis tyd dat mense se oë oopgaan.
Wake up and smell the S**t!.
Dis nie die rescuer en shelter wat faal nie — dis die samelewing wat blind geraak het en n houding het dat dit n shelter of rescuer se plig is om in te neem…
Sonder om self n vinger te verrig of n beursie oop te maak!

Ek weet nie eens of my punt deurkom nie.
Ek lees terug en voel nie eers die helfte van wat in my hart leef nie.
Ek wil net skree!

Is jy op Facebook?
Sien jy wat aangaan?
Verstaan jy dat daar geen plek is nie?
Verstaan jy dat “hulle inneem” geld kos — nie net vandag nie, maar tot die dag wat hulle uiteindelik ’n huis kry?

Egte veeartsorg.
Nie boererate van Facebook nie.
Ordentlike kos.
Nie supermark se gepresde mielies nie.
Ontwurmings.
Inentings.
Toetse vir parvo en distemper vóór jy hulle inneem.

Tyd.
Komberse was.
Poef optel.
Netjies hou en ontsmet.
Stimuleer.
Ware liefde gee.

Want om in te neem is nie net om te vat en in ’n hok te sit nie.
Wel… nie hier nie, in elk geval.

Dit vat meer as ’n R100-donasie.
Ons doen dit alles uit liefde.
Maar liefde alleen gee nie vir hulle die beste sorg nie.
Dit kos geld!
Meer as wat ons het…..

En asseblief — as ek sê ons het nie plek nie, d**k mooi wat dit beteken.
Dit beteken nie ek wil nie help nie.
Dit beteken ek het reeds meer diere as wat ek kan bekostig om te versorg.
Ek het reeds meer verantwoordelikheid as wat ’n dag my toelaat.
As jy hoor ek het nie plek nie…het jy ooit gevra “waarmee kan ek help?”
“Wat het jy nodig?”
Nope. Ek hoor dit selde!
Ek moet fokus op wat ek het — met wat ek het.
Ek se nie ons het nie plek nie omdat ek nie lus is nie
Of omdat ek bietjie wil weggaan nie
Of omdat ek laat wil slaap nie
Of omdat ek gaste kry nie
Of omdat ek moeg is nie…
Of omdat ek 1 aand dieselfde tyd as my man graag sou wou gaan inkruip nie…
Ek se ek is vol oor ek is….
Een klein spatseltjie in die groot emmer van redding.

En al is ons emmer oorvol — ons sal altyd probeer, altyd hoop,
en altyd liefhê.
Maar ek vra net… verstaan asseblief.
Luister wanneer iemand sê: ons het nie plek nie.
Dis nie ’n verskoning nie.
Dis ’n pleidooi. 💔
Dit beteken daar is reeds meer as wat ons kan hanteer….
En dan vra jy “wat het jy nodig…hoe kan ek help…”!

07/11/2025

We cannot say how much this means to us, 1st thing i did this morning was pay up our vet bill then contact the pensioner couple in NC to say we can help to sterilise their dogs, then i sat down and cried again.
Zandri Botma thankyou, StarPet South Africa & Absolute Pets bless you for making a difference.
Thankyou to everyone who voted and supported the October competition.
Much love
The KH family

WOW WOW WOW!

With your amazing help and support, we were able to donate an amazing R55,222 to our October charity choice - Kalahari Heart Animal Welfare 🙌

THANK YOU so much to everyone who took part in and supported the October StarPet competition, we could not have done it without YOU and Absolute Pets!

👏

07/11/2025

Lovely Luna!

You have been selected by the StarPet team as our StarPick of the month winner in our October StarPet competition!

Luna: "She survived an attack from intruders who broke 2 of her ribs and hind leg while she was breastfeeding her 5 pups, She is a Super Pet indeed."

Enjoy your prizes with Absolute Pets StarPet Luna!

07/11/2025

Merry Mildred-Prunella!

You have been selected by our October charity Kalahari Heart Animal Welfare as our 3rd place winner in our October StarPet Angel's Choice competition!

Congratulations!

Mildred-Prunella: "She is a rescue, and despite a challenging first year, she adores life and people. A true star, she is now ten years old. She gets along well with all her four-legged "siblings" and loves chatting with the neighbor's dogs through the walls. Always on patrol, she ensures the yard is safe, yet she still finds time to be a silly billy with her human sister during photo time. She is such a happy girl, filled with joy and love every day."

Enjoy your prize with Absolute Pets StarPet Mildred-Prunella!