Irwin's Animal Rescue
It's entirely likely that no previous reception would have fully prepared you for the welcoming committee that awaits your first visit to Irwin's. It begins as you arrive at the main gate, quietly at first, but rising quickly as others add their voices to the pack ... barking, baying, howling, woofing, yapping, yelping and snarling.
The commotion reaches a crescendo as park your vehicle and look for the office. It's situated right in the "eye of the storm",. of course, so you take a deep breath and prepare yourself.
You proceed, somewhat tentatively, amid literally hundreds of excited hounds. Standing on hind legs, they crane and strain their necks to get a better view of this human who dares to intrude on their turf.
Destination reached, calm gradually returns ... until the next visitor arrives.
For twenty five years Irwin Animal Rescue Centre, hidden away in Walkers Fruit Farms, has been the saviour of countless animals who otherwise faced a life of abject misery and very often a cruel and painful demise.
Irwin's is unique in that the animals who are brought to the centre are nurtured back to health and allowed to live out the remainder of their lives in a caring environment at the farm. Unlike the SPCA, for instance, their survival is not dependent on whether they will be fostered by a caring human within a specified timeframe. Those animals, as we all know, are euthanaised if homes are not found within that time. It was this caveat that was to be the inspiration for the founding of the rescue centre.
At Irwin's the animals' right to life is a given, and, apart from some exceptional instances, replacement homes are never sought. Some people may not agree with these sentiments, but one fact is clear: the vast majority of these animals would have died in misery were it not for Irwin Animal Rescue Centre.
Co-founder Anne Cronje is an incredibly focused and dedicated woman who has devoted her life to rescuing abandoned, unloved, ill-treated and abused animals. She can relate tales, that, unless you are completely without compassion, will literally bring a tear to your eye. Stories of such cruelty and barbarism that really make you ashamed to be a member of the human race.
Of course, that such a place like Irwin's has to exist in the first place is a sad indictment on our society. That it is bursting at the seams just compounds the issue. For these lucky animals though, Anne and her dedicated, enthusiastic staff were on hand to give help at a critical time. Thousands, if not millions, of animals around the country are not so fortunate.
As is the case with every other animal welfare organisation in South Africa, Irwin's receives no financial backing from the government. It exists entirely on the charity of animal lovers and with proceeds from the sale of pet food, donated books, clothes and bric-a-brac that are sold from their stalls at De Deur market. It is a knife-edge battle for survival every month. With around eight hundred animals on the farm, basic running costs, which includes feed, amounts to around an incredible R60 000 per month. The added expense of medicines and vet bills can push this much higher. A further strain on finances has been the ongoing campaign to improve the aesthetics of the farm.
As mentioned, the success of any operation of this kind depends largely on the generosity of donors. Anne has devised a number of ways in which folk can contribute towards helping the animals. For instance, the sum of R25 per month will make you a Pet's Pal, R40 per month will sponsor a kennel and you can become a Garden Sponsor for R60.
Although the vast majority of animals at the farm are dogs, there are also approximately one hundred cats and varying numbers of ponies, donkeys, pigs and birds. In fact, no animal in distress is turned away.
If you feel you would like to find out more about the centre, you can. Every Sunday, excluding the last one of the month, is an open day at Irwin's. The public is encouraged, from 10am onwards, to come and visit the animals. This allows them to interact with humans and helps to restore some of the trust and faith that was so badly betrayed. Listening to Anne, it can be of great benefit to both parties.
Tel: 016 590 1255 (currently not available due to cable theft)
Cell: 082 950 4368
e-mail: irwins@goggaconnect.co.za
P.O. Box 720 Henley on Klip, 1962
