TUFCAT NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2017

This is our first newsletter for the year and I will try to be as brief as possible…

2016 was extremely challenging for TUFCAT, but we have, as always, achieved many of our goals. The

main reason we have managed to overcome various challenges can be attributed to the incredible

support we receive from UWC staff and students (past and present) and animal lovers everywhere.

Every day I am humbled by your kindness and generosity. I hope you all know how much we appreciate

your support and how many animals (and their people) we have been able to help because of your

contribution. I have tried to thank each one of you individually and have also included your name on

the TUFCAT roll of honour further on in this newsletter. If I have omitted anyone by mistake, I

apologise sincerely and trust you will let me know. Thank you also to those who choose to remain

anonymous, yet continue to donate to the animals.

Two big blessings came our way towards the end of last year through personal contacts. We have

known each other for a very long time and our paths have crossed in strange ways over the years.

Thank you to Hester & Debra - you two have enabled us to do so much more than we dreamed

possible and am forever grateful….

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UPDATE ON THE 2016 STUDENT PROTESTS

The impact that the protests had on the cats cannot be under estimated. We have lost shelters and

many cats have become displaced. There have even been casualties. However, thanks to Frank (a UWC

cleaner who helps TUFCAT), all the colonies were fed throughout the shutdown and various issues

were brought to our attention. Frank’s company (Servest) only just got their contract renewed so he

had no salary for several months. Thanks to TUFCAT and UWC staff, Zannie Bock; Heide Goodman and

Sandy Zinn, he managed to get through a very rough period.

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2017 IS A SIGNIFICANT YEAR FOR US AS TUFCAT TURNS 20!

Although we only registered as an NPO in 2009, the trapping, sterilising and feeding officially began in

1997.

TUFCAT has come a very long way. When we started, we had very little support and the idea of setting

up a TNR programme was anathema to most. We experienced opposition from the Cape Flats Nature

Reserve (due to high levels of predation, which has since stopped), from cat hating staff, and from

students who feared and were suspicious of cats. We are delighted to report that this has changed

significantly and we now enjoy widespread support, both on and off campus, and work closely with

various animal welfare groups. We continue to offer advice on a daily basis to individuals,

organisations, institutions and companies wanting to manage their feral cat population. TUFCAT has

successfully managed to sterilise and care for hundreds of feral (also tame cats and increasingly dogs

and puppies) over the years. We offer support to UWC cleaners, as well as farmworkers in Villiersdorp,

where our ‘Home for Life’ sanctuary is based.

PLANNED 20th BIRTHDAY ACTIVITIES

We have some activities planned for early 2017, including a trap and sterilisation blitz with TEARS this

month. This has been a long time coming and will help to ensure that our cat population control

targets for period 2016-2017 is reached. We will be doing an annual audit and will count the cats over

the next three months.

We have been communicating with ARO about the possibility of bringing their MASU

(http://www.animalrescue.org.za/masu/) to campus to create awareness. TUFCAT will also be hosting

an OPEN DAY at UWC for supporters in 2017 – we had hoped to do it last year, but the protests put

an end to those and many other plans.

To help create awareness and alter negative perceptions about feral cats, a cat calendar is planned

(for 2018). Yasaar, who is originally from Cape Town, but now living in Canada, is planning to visit the

ferals on campus later this month. She will be taking photos of UWC’s feline residents. Check out her

blog which focuses on environmental enrichment for cats: chirpycats.com

We also have a few other plans, like a cat poetry competition, an art auction and a pop up Cat Café

(high tea with the kitties) at the sanctuary.

If you have any other ideas as to how we can celebrate our 20th birthday and/or would like to help us

in some way, please email Sharyn: sspicer@uwc.ac.za

You can also help us celebrate by setting up a monthly debit order of a mere R20 per month to help

us sustain our projects. If 20 people persuaded 20 friends, colleagues & family members to do the

same, this would generate R8000 per month for TUFCAT.

Thank You!!!!

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TUFCAT SANCTUARY

The TUFCAT ‘Home for Life’ sanctuary recently admitted 2 new residents – I feline and 1 canine.

Mr Spunky a ginger & white male, was initially believed to be feral. He was left behind when his owners

moved from a residential development in Somerset West 1.5 years ago! He wandered from house to

house and everyone chased him away making him extremely distrustful, stressed and angry. A kind

resident took him to Helderberg Animal Welfare (HAWS) in Gordon’s Bay. But, Mr Spunky was not a

good candidate for adoption as he lashed out at people and attacked and bit at every opportunity.

But, Mrs Knoble his rescuer (who still visits him) was determined to give him a chance, so HAWS

contacted TUFCAT. We decided to give it a try even though he was until recently a full male and came

with a lot of baggage. He settled in incredibly well – even though the first few weeks were terrifying!

The turning point came when we fostered a litter of 4 kittens (rescued from a nearby farm). Mr Spunky

transformed overnight is the best kitten-minder we have ever encountered. He spends every moment

with the kittens and guards them as if they were his own. Quite extraordinary!

Mr Spunky and his babies….

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KITTENS

We have numerous kittens needing homes. All colours and sizes. Some have beautiful blue eyes.

These little darlings are extremely tame and are healthy, loving and cuddly….If you want to adopt a

kitten or two, please email me: sspicer@uwc.ac.za

T

Shiva and Mario (farm kittens) Thomas (farm kitten)

Eduardo on the mend… (found injured at Dos Santos Residence)

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FOXY

Foxy was picked up at UWC 0n 5 December 2016. She was spotted wandering near the Senate and

crèche and was on the point of collapse when we found her. She is still a young dog and is looking

really good already. She will soon be available for adoption. Foxy is playful, intelligent, loving and

gentle and gets along with both dogs and cats.

Foxy on the day we found her wandering around at UWC

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PUPPIES NEED A LIFELINE

These puppies currently live with farmworkers near Villiersdorp. They asked us to help them as their

dog keeps giving birth and no pups have ever made it out alive...We have provided food and would

like to spay Ou Nooi, the mother dog later this month, but need somewhere for the pups to go. They

are about 5-6 weeks old now and we hope to relocate them asap. There is no hope of finding homes

out here, so we need some help. Can anyone foster the pups and/or adopt or help us find them loving

homes?

Since putting out an appeal on fb for a kennel for Ou Nooi and Bruno (who lives next door), I have

received offers of help and hope to sterilise them and collect their new kennels very soon. Thank you

to Elana Hopkins, Averil, Shonah Gallichan and Cam van Aken.

To adopt or foster a puppy, email: sspicer@uwc.ac.za / or call 082 433 0932

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FARM OUTREACH – VILLIERSDORP ENVIRONS

Since moving to Villiersdorp we have become involved with many farmworker communities and

currently visit and provide support for animals living on 10 farms in and around Villiersdorp. We help

with, the provision of cat and dog food, kennels, sterilisations and minor medical treatments, dipping

etc. The need is so huge and every time we visit a farm, people come running from every direction

asking for help with their animals. We are always amazed by how much people care and how the

absolute poorest of the poor in rural areas, still manage to have pets that look fantastic.

The Xmas season was very busy and we found ourselves having to feed various animals on farms

whose owners went away for their annual break. Taking this on was exhausting but we had little option

and could not leave the animals to starve.

We can honestly say that overall, our interventions have made a huge impact and this is evident in the

condition of the animals, the reduction in litters being born and the overall improvement in the

treatment of animals, which are no longer seen as a burden as the stress associated with keeping them

has been lifted for these owners. In some instances, it has also improved farmer / farmworker

relations and more and more farmers are now thanking us for sterilising the farmworker’s pets. We

recently held a SPAY-DAY in the town – 09 December 2016 (along with Jenny Gird – Overberg Petcare)

and managed to sterilise 10 dogs and 16 cats – no mean feat considering we had to collect them all

ourselves! Thank you to Jenny for letting us use her rooms and for always helping out and to Dr Roos

(Envirovet CC) for coming out this way and for your professional service. Most of all thank you to the

Jenny B and the Trust – without you none of this would be possible and we are forever grateful for

the difference you make.

We plan similar days in 2007 and hope that Vetsol will come and assist us. The level of animal cruelty,

combined with the shortage of welfare and veterinary support in this area requires urgent intervention.

We are thus planning to launch a MASS Sterilisation campaign in Villiersdorp (in conjunction with

Overberg Petcare) and it is hoped that we can raise enough money so that the ARO MASU will come

and assist us with this ambitious plan. Anyone wanting to assist with this, please email me:

sspicer@uwc.ac.za

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UNCHAIN CAMPAIGN

Poverty is extremely widespread all over South Africa. Consequently, there are numerous pets living

in poverty as well – pets that, just like their owners, don’t have ready access to important services,

facilities and supplies. To meet the challenges that poverty creates for pets, we need to adjust our

approach to animal welfare. So, to help animals living in poverty, we have to bring services and

information right to their front doors and connect with their people in a positive way.

In order to further improve the daily lives of farm animals, whose miserable lives remain ‘invisible’ to

most, we plan to launch an ‘Unchain Campaign.’ Many dogs remain chained 24/7 and the

temperatures in this area are severe throughout the year. This is because in most cases, the farmer

insists on it due to a lack of proper fencing. By helping with fencing, we can get these dogs unchained.

We also need proper fitting collars for them while they wait for fences. At the moment, we have 8

homes needing some fencing (see 3 featured below) so that the dogs can come off their chains. If you

have contacts where we can buy fencing at a good rate or if you are perhaps willing to sponsor a metre

or two (R17.90 per metre) or even a specific dog, please email: Sharyn – sspicer@uwc.ac.za

Dog 1: Blackie – has a huge kennel (thanks to Grenville Liepner, who donated it and brought to UWC

and Maureen Jackson from Grabouw who delivered it to the farm), but remains chained. His future is

under threat as people tease and when he does get let off the chain to exercise, he bites them! This is

causing his owners – a family of women who work on a farm (they also have 23 cats, 20 sterilised by

us thus far). Koekie and her family are wonderful, kind people who really love Blackie. To transform

his life, all they need is 15-20 metres fencing (R17.90 per metre at the local co-op), a few poles and a

gate (2nd hand would be great).

Blackie with his kennel…

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Dog 2: Honnie

This huge, strong, young dog who we spayed at our spay-day in December 2016. She is well cared for

and all she needs a proper kennel and some fencing – around 10 metres, so she too can enjoy her

freedom.

Honnie on her way to be sterilised….

ALLEY CAT ALLIES FERAL FRIENDS NETWORK

US based organisation, Alley Cat Allies (https://www.alleycat.org/) are global leaders in championing

the humane treatment of all cats, including ferals. Once considered a radical idea, TNR and humane

cat protocols are now becoming mainstream. TUFCAT has been inspired and influenced by this

organisation from the outset and our policies are in line with theirs. We recently applied to join their

network and are delighted to report that we were reviewed and approved!

We feel it is necessary to reaffirm our policies and protocols in the light of recent, unfortunate events.

A UWC staffer and person once trusted and valued and considered to be a TUFCAT supporter, has

been contravening our policies, along with another animal welfare group. They have been coming

onto campus and trapping and removing cats without our knowledge or permission. When

confronted, they proceeded to slander TUFCAT and make all sorts of outrageous allegations, including

that there are dead cats lying all over campus. UWC is a public institution and anyone can come and

check on the cats and see that this is absolutely outrageous, and completely false. Furthermore, the

thousands of staff and students can testify that TUFCAT has never stopped caring for the ferals for

two entire decades and we will not allow dishonest people with ulterior motives to undermine us and

jeopardise everything we have worked towards. This unethical and illegal behaviour has been

reported to various authorities, including security and the UWC executive. The chief inspector at the

CoGH has been informed about this matter and has agreed to send an inspector to campus and will

write a report, which we hope will put an end to these nasty, unfounded rumours, as well as these

shocking activities.

TUFCAT POLICIES

We do not remove healthy ferals from campus. They are returned to their original site of capture once sterilized.

We do not leave cat traps unattended, and do everything possible ensure that trapping is done so that cats do not have to spend more than 24 hours in traps before being released.

Wherever possible we rehome tame cats, kittens and dogs and we network with other welfares to this end. All adoptees have to agree to our adoptions criteria and must fill in an application form.

We do not home feral cats or socialise feral kittens. We do not routinely test the ferals for feline AIDS or leukemia and there are

myriad reasons for this. This is one of the reasons why we do not adopt out ferals. We are vigilant about observing the cats and treat any symptoms as far as possible. We euthanase very sick cats. Follow these links to find out more: http://www.alleycat.org/resources/feline-leukemia-virus-felv/

http://icraeastbay.org/pdf/shldwerelsFIV.pdf

Other staff who care for and feed colonies have been traumatised by the sudden loss of their cats,

which we wrongly assumed was due to the protests… So, if you are part of the UWC community and

cats you interact with have mysteriously vanished, please could you contact me asap

(sspicer@uwc.ac.za). We are busy compiling our annual report as well as conduct a population audit,

so this information would really help.

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TUFCAT ROLL OF HONOUR - THANK YOU!

OCTOBER 2016 – JANUARY 2017

To everyone who donated anonymously and to the UWC students who only put their first names or

used Feral Cats / Student Protests in the reference, I thus am unable to identify you and thank

personally….

For cash donations to buy the huge amount of cat food needed monthly and also pay other

expenses:

Angela Steinmetz, Angela Rackstraw, Anne Hemmings, Alex Daniels, Allison Fullard & Phil, Ana

Casaneuva, Aretha Cooper, Bev Muller, Chantal Smuts, Cheryl-Ann Michael, Colleen Saunders, Debra

Schein, Di Fraser, Ernie Kunneke, Eulize, Fiona Craig, Fiona Wade, Genevieve Hart, Greg Kappers,

Hester Joubert, Holly Filday, Heide Goodman, Heike Becker, Herman Wittenberg, Helen Hutchinson,

Heike Knoble (also Hermann & neighbour Inge), Heather Swanepoel, Ian Bocock, Jacques deVille,

Jerome Kiley, Jeanne Louw, Karen de Klerk, Lisa Wegner, Lara Alessi Harrison, Madge Gibson, Marilyn

Hoole, Mandy Zeeman, Mikki Flockemann, Maureen & Ted (PUPP), Michelle Mordaunt-Bexiga, Mark

& Moira Boekstein, Margaret Bonsall, PUPP, Rachel Perl, Ruth Howard, Stephen Martin, Sandy Zinn,

Shirley Brooks, S. Savahl, Tanya Botha, Tracy Jarman, Tracy Pace, Tinky Wouterse & the AACL

volunteers, Uma Meshtrie, Vanessa Taylor, Western Province Cat Club, Wendy Woodward, Wendy

Herbig, Zannie Bock.

For CAT & DOG FOOD

Sandra van Reenen, Heide Goodman, Riekie Wandrag, Barbara Volkwyn, Toni Brockhoven, Joyce & Sid

Beeton, Ana Casaneuva, Kairen Brooke-Anderson (Caspian Alexander Trust), Hazel King, Jenny

Mitchell and Lianie Els. We are especially grateful to AACL (Mpho, Tracey & Helen) & the Lucky Lucy

Foundation (Richard) for sharing some of your cat food with us when we had nothing at all….

Thank you also to Isaac Bukani (PURINA) for the large donation of dog food received last year.

Hill’s for total awesomeness and support from the outset….

Montego for a once-off donation during the student protests when we were totally desperate.

For KENNELS & SHELTERS

Shauna Germishuizen, Leon Buter, Grenville Liepner

(Maureen Jackson for bringing to the farm for Blackie),

Allison & Phil, Shonah Gallichan, Elaine Harris, Elana

Hopkins (and Averil), Jerome Kiley.

For BOOKS AND MAGAZINES

Judy du Toit, Rae Gouws, Charmaine French and PAT (and

Heide for collecting), Di Fraser (Holly for collecting), Pat

Harris, Michelle Walmsley, Wendy Herbig (and Carmelita

for collecting).

For OTHER STUFF:

My Guru and especially Margaret for website support.

Carla Nequita de Vos and mom Cherryl van Zijl for the

cushion covers and ongoing support in various ways,

brownie maker

Michelle Walmsley’s colleagues and suppliers (Pettina

Lombard, Jenelle Murray, Denise Ziegelasch, Lynette

Dixon).

Tarryn and Timo for collecting cat food from Sandra and

taking to Frankie at UWC when I could not do so…..

Holly, Allison & Phil for their extraordinary generosity:

Holly’s birthday guests gave catfood instead of presents:

Neil Jackson, Anneke, Retha Kruger & Hannah, Tracy &

Jonty Portnoi, Lorraine Bester, Debbie Caknis, Natalie

Smith, Markus & Craig, Judy du Toit. Allison & Phil’s

wedding guest donated to TUFCAT in lieu of gifts.

Madge and Tracy for phones. Our communication system

is vastly improved. Judy du Toit and family, and Michelle

Walmsley for donating clothing to the farmworkers. A recent donation of men’s clothing from the du

Toit’s was gratefully received by Rico, Kallie, Ethan, Flippie, Oupa, Paulus, Boeta & Simphiwe.

Michelle’s clothes were donated to Magrieta, Lena and Berenice.

Dr Roos (Envirovet CC), Dr Koba Grobler, Dr Michelle Lawrence (Grabouw vet) for helping with

sterilisations and emergencies.

Last, but definitely not least…. Hester & Debra for generosity beyond words…your contribution will

never be forgotten.

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TUFCAT BANK DETAILS

Donations can be made

in favour of:

Name of Account: The

UWC Feral Cat Project

Bank: NEDBANK

Account Number:

2011093155

Type of account: Savings

Branch: Constantia

Branch Code: 101109

(FNB clients may need to

add 2 zeros, 00 at the

end of the branch code)

International Donors

please use Swift Code:

NEDSZAJJ

Thank You!

2017 Wish List: * Cash donations are always welcome.

* Cat food (any kind), * Dog leads & collars (for farm dogs who are chained 24/7 so they can be walked), * Dog kennels (for farm dogs and UWC feral cats), * Dog and cat bowls and 2 litre ice-cream dishes, * Old sheets, towels and single duvets (inners & covers, * Tick & flea treatments, * A trestle table for booksales, * Bookshelves for our campus shop, * A bicycle (preferably a mountain bike due to the terrain needing to be covered) for Rico our sanctuary helper to use, so he can move between farms – he currently covers huge distance on foot, yet still manages to bring many animal related issues to our attention. He also dips animals, delivers food, removes stiches etc., * Fencing material (so we can enclose the worker's properties and unchain some dogs), * Second-hand books, clothing, toys, household goods and furniture to sell and/or donate to desperately poor people who despite their circumstances, still manage to care for their animals.

How to Help: If you are unable to donate cash or goods, maybe you will consider donating some of your time and professional services in order to help animals… We need the following:

Graphic designer to design a T-Shirt and to help with flyers, leaflets, campaigns etc.,

Individuals to distribute and collect coin collection tins in their areas or from their friends and contacts,

People to organise fund-raising and educational events and off campus booksales,

Foster homes and/or animal lovers to adopt kittens, puppies and dogs. We currently have various kittens, a lovely young female X Jack Russell called Tessa, and 7 X-breed puppies needing homes. (Can send pics and details and will bring through to new home or foster, if there is any interest),

Drivers and volunteers to help with our spay-days in Villiersdorp,

Consider a debit order, as little as R20 per month can help us sustain

our projects…

You can specify how you would like your donation to be spent:

Food for the UWC feral cats

Help for farmworker’s animals

Support sanctuary residents

Vet bills

Bakkie owners to bring donated kennels from Cape Town to the farms where they are needed,

Carpenters, handy-people to help build structures for sanctuary cats,

Social media expert to help promote TUFCAT and run campaigns,

Animal-friendly lawyer for advice. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Please forward this newsletter to anyone who may be interested. If you have received it by mistake, please send an email with

[UNSUBSCRIBE] in the subject line.