Laerskool Kruinpark het 2 landloop atlete wat deurdring na die Distrik Landloopkampioenskappe.
Dit is ‘n besige jaar vir die landloop atlete van Laerskool Kruinpark. Nie net moet hulle fiks wees en lang asems hê nie, met die landloopkampioenskappe word hulle deursettingsvermoë tot die uiterste getoets.
Die landloop 2022 seisoen het 22 Julie afgeskop met die eerste vriendskaplike wedloop wat by Kallie de Haas plaasgevind het. Reeds daar het Sipho Mashego en Juné van Wyk, altwee O/11 leerders van Laerskool Kruinpark, gewys dat hulle vasbeslote is om dié seisoen ‘n suksesvolle een te maak. Juné van Wyk het 1ste plek, en Sipho Mashego 3de plek behaal.
27 Julie het die Laerskool Oranjegloed ‘n wedstryd aangebied en daar het die landloop atlete net so uitstekend presteer. Daar was ‘n paar atlete wat top 10 plekke behaal het, met Juné van Wyk met ‘n 1ste plek en Sipho Mashego wat ‘n 2de plek behaal het.
Op 29 Julie het Laerskool Goedehoop ook ‘n landloop wedstryd aangebied, waar die landloop atlete goeie prestasies ontvang het. By die juniors het Lihan Roux ‘n 1ste en Lucan Lessing ‘n 2de plek behaal. Juné van Wyk het weereens ‘n 1ste plek en Sipho Mashego het ‘n 2de plek behaal.
Tydens die Zone Landloopkampioenskappe wat 17 Augustus by Laerskool Goedehoop plaasgevind het, was daar 8 landloop atlete wat deurgedring het na die Highveld Ridge Landloopkampioenskappe. Die atlete was Abigail Smit, Milan Zwarts, Jeneska Swanepoel, Emmanuel Mashego, Sipho Mashego, Dyllan van der Merwe, Franco Marais en Juné van Wyk.
Die Highveld Ridge Landloopkampioenskappe het die 25ste Augustus, in Evander, by Hoërskool Evander plaasgevind. Dit was ‘n tawwe kampioenskap met ongelooflike talentvolle atlete wat van regoor die munisipale distrik deelgeneem het. Juné van Wyk het 1ste plek en Sipho Mashego het 2de plek tydens die kampioenskappe behaal en dring ook dan na die Distrik Landloopkampioenskappe deur wat die 10de September in Breyten gaan plaasvind.
Laerskool Kruinpark Landloop atlete; Juné van Wyk O/11 Dogters en Sipho Mashego O/11 Seuns dring deur na Distrik Landloopkampioenskappe.
Dit is ‘n groot prestasie vir hierdie twee landloop atlete, wat elke weet baie hard oefen en voorberei vir die kampioenskappe.
Junè van Wyk blink ook uit met die ASA Atletiek. Sy het Saterdag die 20ste Augustus, ASA Mpumalanga Kampioenskappe gehardloop waar sy eerste plek gekry het. Sy is opgeneem in die Mpumalanga span wat ASA SA gaan harloop die 17de September in Rustenburg!
Juné van Wyk – ASA Atletiek, verteenwoordig Mpumalanga
Theo Scherman, wat O/8 deelneem, het ook 20ste Augustus aan ASA Mpumalanga Kampioenskappe deelgeneem en is gekies vir die Mpumalanga span wat ASA SA gaan harloop die 17de September in Rustenburg! Dit is voorwaar ‘n groot prestasie vir hierdie twee landloopatlete!
Theo Scherman -ASA Atletiek, verteenwoordig Mpumalanga.
Die leerders van Laerskool Kruinpark blink uit in verskillende sportsoorte, soos die Seuns Tennisspan wat as Ligawenners aangewys is. Lees meer hier.
Volg ook gerus Laerskool Kruinpark op hulle Facebookblad.
Sasol addresses food security and unemployment in its communities
Sasol has launched its Energy Innovation Schools competition aimed at raising awareness on the use of renewable and sustainable energy. The competition is geared at grades 4 to 11 learners from schools in its fence-line communities in Sasolburg, Secunda and Ekandustria.
The competition is one of the supporting initiatives of the Sasol Solar Challenge, a biennial endurance event bringing together university and high school teams, and even private engineers who have manufactured fully functioning, roadworthy solar-powered cars. It runs on public roads, sharing space with trucks and regular traffic, and passes through multiple small towns. In turn, the Energy Innovation Schools Competition promotes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education among young people and enables them to innovate, build critical thinking, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
“The aim of the Energy Innovation Schools Project competition is to stimulate a sense of wonder and curiosity about science, technology and energy among learners to enhance the Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase and FET Phase curriculum in the relevant subjects of Natural Sciences, Technology and Physical Sciences in pursuit of solving real-life problems related to energy sustainability,” said Noxolo Kahlana, Head of the Sasol Foundation Trust. “Sasol is using this opportunity to bring the idea of alternative and renewable energies closer to schools while supporting the solar car teams, which are competing in the Sasol Solar Challenge,”
The Energy Innovation Schools Project competition is divided into two categories – for primary and high schools – and runs in three phases, which are school, regional and final. Primary school learners in grades 4 to 7 are required to present a non-experimental project on renewable and alternative energy, create a poster and orally present it. High school learners in grades 8 to 11 are required to apply scientific methods to investigate a renewable and alternative energy topic, create a prototype and present a project that works on renewable and alternative energy.
“Our goal is to advance chemical and energy solutions that contribute to a thriving planet, society and enterprise. The Energy Innovation Schools Project is one step towards that goal,” added Kahlana. “The competition is also our way of giving back to our fence-line communities by investing in engineers, scientists and thought leaders of tomorrow through education and skills development. Both these elements will play a major role in the development of sustainable solutions to address energy challenges in our fence-line communities and countrywide.”
Patience Mthembu from Botjhorisong Resource Centre in Sasolburg said: “We are excited to be part of this initiative and are grateful to Sasol for investing in our young people and giving them an opportunity to test their abilities and the limits of STEM education. “We are involved in the competition as coordinators, and we are also supporting the schools in carrying out the competition. We, therefore, look forward to reviewing and learning more about each project designed and developed by the learners.”
The school-level competition is already underway and will end on Friday,12 August 2022. Participating teams are from schools in Sasolburg, Secunda and Ekandustria.
Sasol addresses food security and unemployment in its communities
Secunda, Mpumalanga – Sasol has launched Bridge to Work (BtW), a portfolio of initiatives aimed at improving food security and reducing unemployment in its communities across the country. This is by developing emerging farmers and improving access to economic opportunities for the youth, women, and adults out of work by providing training in critical skills such as motor mechanics, welding, technology and digital business management skills.
“As we progress our Future Sasol strategy, giving effect to a just transition is central to our decarbonisation pathways towards achieving our 2050 net zero ambitions,” said Charlotte Mokoena, Executive Vice President: Human Resources and Stakeholder Relations.
“We see the vision of Sasol’s just transition as a shared value proposition that will come to life through the inclusive transformation of our business, people and society. We recognise the socio-economic impact of this transition over time and have developed a portfolio of pilot initiatives and community resilience projects to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”
Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane says the programme ties perfectly with the government’s economic revitalization efforts, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated the socio-economic challenges in Mpumalanga. “We are currently hard at work to recalibrate the provincial economy, in response to these unfavourable economic conditions. As we accelerate the implementation of the Mpumalanga Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (MERRP), we pin our hopes on partners like SASOL, to render their unwavering support to our efforts to recalibrate the Provincial economy”, the Premier explained.
Mtshweni-Tsipane says the SASOL programme is timely, in light of training programmes initiated by the Provincial Government to improve the skills levels of the unemployed. She cited the Furniture Technology Incubator, among them. “We have invested into the Furniture Technology Incubator, established to train people in furniture manufacturing as well as upholstery. This will assist SMMEs to participate in the furniture manufacturing sector”, she expatiated.
The Premier expressed hope that designated communities, mainly the youth and women, will take advantage of the outcome of the public/private partnerships, such SASOL’s bridge to work. She referenced the SASOL Kraal farmers production programme as a case in point, to be linked with the envisaged Mpumalanga Agri-Mall, initiated by the provincial government. The Agri-Mall will create a market for emerging farmers, on completion.
The programmes under BtW are:
Iphepe, which is aimed at establishing and growing the number of successful smallholder farmers, through integrated support systems;
Community welding is aimed at creating qualified welders who are equipped to meet the required skill level for new and existing projects in Mpumalanga and Free State;
Handyman services to create jobs for unemployed youth and unskilled school handymen;
Motor mechanics to produce certified Motor Mechanics, who will contribute to the motor industry and be positioned to enter the renewable energy-powered vehicle industry;
Business technology programme to assist youth in our communities achieve applied technology skills in order to create scalable start-ups and sustainable digital SMMEs that are relevant to their community; and
Community service programme where the unemployed will be mobilised to become active citizens of the country’s democracy while earning an income and increasing their employability.
To implement these interventions, Sasol has partnered with the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) in Mpumalanga, Buhle Farmers’ Academy, and the African Farmer’s Association of South Africa (AFASA). Additional partners include Afrox, Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC), Aurex, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Productivity SA, and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the Gert Sibande TVET College.
“Our aspiration to transition to a lower carbon future cannot be achieved at the expense of our communities, which are already experiencing high levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality. If leveraged appropriately, we believe opportunities in a low carbon future can deliver a more inclusive, sustainable and thriving South Africa,” adds Mokoena.
Explaining the rationale behind Afrox’s partnership with Sasol, Corporate Social Investment Manager, Nemenita Mohabir, said over many years, the company has invested in the training of young welders and we are dedicated to encouraging our youth to take up this profession.
“We do this by joining with like-minded organisations like Sasol and Aurex to ensure the success of students at the Boitjhorisong Welding Training Centre.”
Added Aurex Constructors CEO Stuart Kent: “Aurex Constructors are on a mission to change the challenges faced by South Africans, by answering the need for skills development, secure facilities and essentials that will make a difference to people in the communities where we work. Identifying a scarcity of welding skills in the Sasolburg area resulted in an opportunity to partner with Sasol and Afrox and create the Boitjhorisong Welding Training Centre. Aurex trainers educate delegates on theoretical and practical exercises in structural and Argon (TIG) welding.” Sasol will be embarking on a roadshow before the end of the year, visiting communities to raise awareness of these programmes and recruit interested individuals.
Helena Joubert finished 7th in this year’s Comrades Marathon
7th Woman to cross the line and 4th veteran in this year’s Comrades Marathon! That is what Helena Joubert achieved since her first Comrades Marathon in 2014. In only 7 races! Incredible!
Not only did she achieve Top 10 she also did it in under 7 hours! 6 hours, 55 minutes and 36 seconds to be precise.
Helena spoke to the Bulletin regarding her Comrades Marathon.
“The feeling when you enter the stadium is unbelievable,” said Helena, “when I entered the stadium, I was given a rose. The guy even whent down on his knees. It was so special. I wanted to cry!”
The mother of three explains that it is difficult to train properly for Comrades as the training is quite tough. “We had altitude training in Dullstroom for 8 weeks,” said Helena, “I never whent home during that time and missed my children so much.”
She explained that at the start of the race they all warmed up together and moved to the beginning as a group. “It felt so weird, I was running with women that I followed as successful runners.”
The run this year was a Down Run. Next year the Comrades Marathon will be an Up Run
UprunDownrun
During the training in Dullstroom the athletes ran an average of 250 km per week.
Helena won the Cosmos 3 in 1 marathon this year nursing an injury. This injury kept her from preparing for the Comrades Marathon for three months. The same injury kept her from training for about three months.
Helena credits her coach for pushing her on to finish stronger. “He said that I can do better and even planted the seed to run for a gold medal,” said Helena, “I managed to run fast enough for a silver medal in my own dilapidated way. It is 4 years since I joined John Hamlett.”
photo: Gabriella Benjamin Photography
“I never knew how far ahead or behind me the other runners were,” she continued, “fortunately someone next to the road will tell you that you are number 6 or 7 etc,”
“At one stage a runner from the UK passed me and I realised that I was then number 8, I decided that 7 sounded better than 8 so I passed her again,” laughed Helena, “I wanted to look back, but Coach John said one should never look back.” She kept a faster pace after passing the English runner.
“I started to do my pickup although it was a bit early but continued to do so until the end,” she continued, “we normally start to pick up around the last 10kms but I started at 18kms.”
Runners sometimes experience a lot of pain after a race such as the Comrades, they struggle to walk end steps are especially painful. “I have nothing of those pains,” said Helena, “I feel fine. The training programme and diet that John gave us really did the trick.”
We are looking forward to next year’s Comrades Marathon. When the Bulletin asked if she has plans to better her position she answered shyly “I don’t know yet, we will have to wait and see.”
Good luck for next year Helena, you made the whole of Secunda proud!
During the past three decades, John has been instrumental in coaching athletes who have competed and earned in excess of 67 Comrades gold medals, 5 Winners and 1 Record Holder, earned several silver medals and progressed to completing personal best times in ultra-distance Marathons, Comrades Marathon & Trail Running Ultra Marathons.
Vier Laerskool Kruinpark leerders dring deur na die Radikale Redenaars Nasionale Finaal.
Laerskool Kruinpark se kekkelkouse neem nie net deel aan verskeie nasionale redenaarskompetisies, soos ConSpirito, ATKV en ook die Radikale Redenaars.
Hierdie jaar was die Radikale Redenaars kompetisie, net soos in die grendeltydperk, gedurende Covid, ‘n aanlynkompetisie, waar die leerders tot en met 22 Julie 2022 tyd gehad het om hulle videos in te stuur.
Meer as 35 kekkelkouse het deelgeneem aan die Radikale Redenaars kompetisie en het almal gespog met pragtige uitslae!
Uit hierdie kekkelkouse, het 20 Kruinparkers gekwalifiseer om aan die streeksfinaal en het hulle ‘n knopie ontvang vir hulle deelname.
Daar is verskeie afdelings waaraan die leerders kon deelneem en voor ingeksryf het. Afrikaans moedertaal, Lees Poësie, ‘Reading Poetry’ en ‘Reading Prosa’ is die afdelings waarin die leerders in uitgeblink het.
Graad 1: Afrikaans Moedertaal
Cindy Bredenham & Amily Obermeyer
Graad 1: Lees – Poësie
Simeon Coetzee
Graad 1: Reading – Poetry
Amily Obermeyer
Graad 2: Afrikaans Moedertaal
Luné Erasmus
Graad 3: Afrikaans Moedertaal
Dine-mari Grobler & Ava Blaauw
Graad 3: Lees – Poësie
Sebastian Botha
Graad 3: Reading – Poetry
Markus Coetzee
Graad 4: Afrikaans Moedertaal
Heike de Klerk, Anél Grobler & Du Toit Malan
Graad 4: Lees – Poësie
Milan Zwarts & Anél Grobler
Graad 5: Afrikaans Moedertaal en Lees – Poësie
Abigail Zwarts
Graad 5: Reading – Prosa
Lianke Obermeyer
Graad 6: Afrikaans Moedertaal
Ju-Ané du Plessis
Graad 6: Lees – Prosa
Imke van der Lith
Graad 7: Afrikaans Moedertaal
Stian Griffin
Graad 7: Lees – Prosa
Katelyn Shaw & Amelia Shaw
Daar het vier Kruinpark kekkelkouse wat deurdring na die Radikale Redenaars Nasionale Finaal wat later in die jaar plaasvind.
Vier van Laerskool Kruinpark se kekkelkouse het by die ATKV-Landsfinaal deelgeneem.
Amelia Shaw, Imke van der Lith, Kamo Maile en Busisa Mashego (Laerskool Kruinpark verteenwoordig, hy is nou in Laerskool Bosveld, Lephalale), het deurgedring het na die ATKV se Nasionale finale Redenaarskompetisie, wat in 16 Augustus by Buffelspoort plaasgevind het.
Dit was strawwe voorbereiding om teen die land se beste redenaars te kompeteer en het al die kekkelkouse hulle goed van hul taak gekwyt.
Al 4 Kruinpark kekkelkouse eindig by die ATKV Landsfinaal op die TOP 10!
LAERSKOOL KRUINPARK KEKKELKOUSE by die ATKV-Landsfinaal (van links na regs): Busisa Mashego, Kamo Maile, Imke van der Lith, Amelia Shaw, juffrou Marianna Victor.
Busisa Mashego, het tydens die ATKV Nasionale redenaarskompetisie die prys gewen het vir beste taalgebruik en beste spreker, graad 4 en 5 addissionele taal.
ATKV-Landsfinaal: Busisa Mashego wen beste taalgebruik en beste spreker, graad 4 en 5 addissionele taal. Busisa ontvang sy sertifikate en prys saam met sy ma en juffrou Marianna Victor.
Kamo Maile het ‘n 5de plek, Amelia Shaw eindig 6de en Imke van der Lith kry 9de plek.
KRUINPARKERS EINDIG ALMAL OP DIE TOP 10 (van links na regs): Imke van der Lith, Kamo Maile en Amelia Shaw.
Kruinpark se kekkelkouse kook sowaar!
Lees hier om te lees hoe hierdie leerders hulle pad oopgepraat het deur die jaar met ATKV Redenaars.
Laerskool Kruinpark se Trompoppies is provinsiale wenners!
Laerskool Kruinpark se Trompoppies het hierdie jaar vir die eerste keer ingeskryf om deel te neem aan SAMCA Liga. SAMCA staan vir “The South African Majorette and Cheerleading Association”
Die skool het Trompoppies as ‘n kultuur aktiwiteit al vir 5 jaar. Dit verg baie dissipline, tyd en toewyding. By Laerskool Kruinpark kan graad 1 tot graad 7 meisies deel word van die Trompoppiespan.
Die kinders begin vroeg in die jaar om te oefen, en begin die kompetisies reeds in die tweede kwartaal. Omdat die kompetisie so streng is en baie hoë standaarde verwag word, oefen die meisies elke week getrou, selfs vakansies word opgeoffer.
Hierdie jaar spog Laerskool Kruinpark se Trompoppiespan ook met ‘n splinternuwe, enig in sy soort, kleurvolle kleredrag, wat die meisies net nog meer laat skitter!
Laerskool Kruinpark Trompoppies tydens 23 Julie 2022 se kompetisie. (Foto deur Trompoppie ouer geneem)
Met Hoërskool Oosterland se 2022 Wieleskou, het die meisies die geleentheid gekry om in hulle splinternuwe klere te kon optree. Tydens Laerskool Kruinpark se Opedag, kon voornemende Kruinparkers ook sien presies wat hierdie unieke kultuur aktiwiteit behels.
Gedurende 2022, het die span reeds aan 2 vorige kompetisies deelgeneem. Die eerste kompetisie het plaasgevind op Laerskool Kruinpark se gronde op die 23ste Julie 2022. Tydens hierdie kompetisie het hulle 2de plek ontvang.
6 Augustus 2022 het die span aan hulle tweede kompetisie deelgeneem wat in Middelburg plaasgevind het en daar het die meisies 1ste plek gekry!
Laerskool Kruinpark Trompoppies tydens 6 Augustus se kompetisie waar hulle 1ste plek ontvang het. (Foto deur Trompoppie ouer geneem)
Saterdag, 27 Augustus 2022 het die span aan die Provinsiale kompetisie deelgeneem en het hulle 1ste plek gekry. Die kompetisie het in Middelburg plaasgevind en Hoërskool Middelburg het as gasheer opgetree. Dit is die eerste van vele vir Laerskool Kruinpark se Trompoppies!
Laerskool Kruinpark se Trompoppie span tydens die Provinsiale Kompetisie wat 27 Augustus 2022 plaasgevind het in Middelburg. Afrigters is: 1ste ry links na regs: Duné Kruger (Organiseerder en hoof afrigter), Bianca Botes. 2de ry links na regs: Melanie Greeff, Charnél van der Walt. 3de ry regs: Wilmarie Greyventstein. 4de ry links na regs: Ninette Booysen, Alecia van Blerk. (Foto deur Trompoppie ouer geneem)
Hierdie is nie die enigste prestasie vir Laerskool Kruinpark se leerders nie, die skool het ook 4 skaakspanne wat die naweek, 3 September 2022 deelneem aan die Mpumalanga uitspele in Nelspruit. Lees meer hier.
Vir meer nuus oor Laerskool Kruinpark se aktiwiteite, volg hulle Facebookblad hier.
SPAYING AND NEUTERING HAVE MANY BENEFITS, INCLUDING HEALTH, BEHAVIOUR & COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
There are two big reasons why you should spay and neuter your pets. We have a massive pet overpopulation crisis worldwide, with not nearly enough homes, never mind good homes. This means that millions of healthy animals are being euthanized (killed humanely) annually. Another reason is it is good for their health!
THE PET OVERPOPULATION CRISIS
You need to understand the magnitude of this overpopulation crisis and then, hopefully, you will understand why many of us advocate so hard for it.
One female cat and her offspring can exponentially produce 370 000 cats in just seven years.
One female dog and her offspring can exponentially produce 67 000 dogs in six years.
Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born, find a home.
According to Rescue Rehab SA, approximately 1 million dogs and cats are euthanized in South Africa every year, that is 2740 a day!
According to the Humane Society of the USA, a cat or dog is euthanized at shelters every 10s.
A report by Mars Petcare showed 224 million animals are homeless in the USA, UK, SA, Mexico, Greece, Russia, China, India & Germany and about 30% of animals in SA are homeless.
At least one in four pets brought to shelters are purebred and this number is climbing.
Although we promote adoption, we can’t adopt our way out of this problem, so we need to fix (pardon the pun) it. We have heard all the bad excuses, debunked the mythsand I educate about it daily on the SPAY & NEUTER SApage.
One of the worst excuses I have heard is that preventing pets from having litters is unnatural and that if God thought it was a problem he would make them sterile. The fact is that we have already interfered with nature by domesticating dogs, cats and other animals. We domesticated the dog 15 000 years ago and the cat 8 000 years ago. In doing so, we helped create this problem. Now it’s our responsibility to solve it. It’s also unnatural to be killing so many of them in our pounds and shelters each year. You can’t blame the shelters, but you should blame breeders and dealers of any kind.
Image by The Paw Company
IT IS GOOD FOR THEIR HEALTH
When you spay and neuter your pets it can lead to longer and happier lives. There are many benefits of spay and neuter for their health which include a lower risk for certain diseases like cancers and pyometra. It certainly eliminates the stress associated with pregnancy. It improves behaviour, especially when dealing with females in heat and males marking or spraying and wandering out of the yard in search of these females which they can smell from far away.
Image by Spay and Neuter SA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SPAYING & NEUTERING
WHAT DOES SPAY & NEUTER MEAN?
It’s important to recognize the difference between sterilization and desexing (traditional spay and neuter). Whereas the former procedure eliminates a dog’s ability to procreate, desexing sterilizes but also eliminates the dog’s ability to produce sex hormones for the remainder of their life.
Vetcare.com defines it as follows:
The word “spay” refers to the sterilization of female pets. During the ovariohysterectomy, or the typical “spay”, the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus are removed from a female dog or cat.
The term “neuter” refers to the castration of male pets. During orchiectomy, or the typical “neuter”, the testes are removed from a male dog or cat.
Both the spay and neuter procedure makes them unable to reproduce and reduces or eliminates breeding-related behaviours. In females it eliminates her heat cycle.
WHAT AGE SHOULD I SPAY/NEUTER MY PET?
An experienced vet can spay and neuter at an age as young as 6-8 weeks old, however, the risks involved with anesthesia may be slightly greater at this age. Older females that are not spayed are at risk too. There is generally no other age limit for the procedure as long as your pet is healthy.
We support spay and neuter at around 6 months of age. We have done so with our pets who all reach ripe old ages and are rarely sick.
SHOULD I LET MY PET HAVE BABIES BEFORE I SPAY THEM?
Most veterinarians and the most recent research recommends that animals are spayed before their first heat cycle (before the age of 7 months or so). This drastically reduces the risk of mammary tumors later in life, prevents uterine infections and unwanted pregnancy. Pregnancy can put unnecessary stress on your pet’s body.
MY PET JUST GAVE BIRTH, HOW LONG SHOULD I WAIT TO SPAY?
Please prevent this, but if it did happen, the suggested time for animals that have recently given birth is about 2 weeks after the young have been weaned and the mother’s milk has dried up.
WHAT ARE SIGNS THAT MY CAT/DOG IS IN HEAT? (Vetcare.com)
Dogs have outward signs of being in heat. The vulva swells, and there is bleeding present for 1-1 ½ weeks. Just after the bleeding stops, most dogs will be receptive to mating for 1-2 weeks. Most dogs will go into heat twice a year, in the spring and fall. Some dogs may skip the fall cycle.
Cats go into heat for the first time typically when they are 5-7 months old. A cat will be in heat (receptive to mating and able to become pregnant) for up to two weeks and then go out of heat. If she has not been mated, two weeks later, she will go back into heat again. This cycling in and out of heat will continue for several months.
Cats can have their first heat cylce at around 4 months of age.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
Even though spay and neuter are major surgical procedures, they are some of the most common procedures done by vets. As with any surgery, there are risks associated with anesthesia and potential surgical complications. The overall occurrence of these risks is very rare.
WILL MY PET GAIN WEIGHT?
Probably not. Just like people, pets become overweight when they eat too much or exercise too little. Choosing a diet that is species-appropriate and suited to the health and lifestyle of your pet is important to prevent weight gain.
WILL THEIR BEHAVIOUR CHANGE AFTER THE SURGERY?
The spay and neuter will most likely not alter your pet’s basic personality which is mainly determined by the breed and a few other factors. It can result in some behavioural changes, but usually for the better!
WILL MY MALE CAT STOP SPRAYING IF I GET HIM NEUTERED?
Spraying is common in unneutered male cats. They want to mark their territory and it would be best to neuter your cat before they develop this behaviour. Males may still engage in full-testosterone male behaviors while their male sex hormone levels diminish after surgery. This can take 6-8 weeks. Remember that male rabbits can still be fertile for a few weeks after neutering, as there may be sperm left in the reproductive tract!
DOES SPAYING & NEUTERING HURT?
During a spay or neuter surgery, the animal is fully anesthetized, so they feel no pain. Afterward, some animals seem to experience some discomfort temporarily, but with pain medication, discomfort may not be experienced at all.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO HEAL?
According to vetcare.com, most spay and neuter skin incisions are fully healed within about 10–14 days, which coincides with the time that stitches or staples, if any, will need to be removed.
WHICH VET TO CHOOSE?
Even though this procedure is a common procedure for vets, not all vets are good at it, so do your homework on the vet! Cats & dogs are common patients, but please use an exotic qualified vet for other animals!
SHOULD ALL ANIMALS BE SPAYED & NEUTERED?
The massive overpopulation crisis includes more than just cats and dogs, so the answer is mostly yes. There might be exceptions due to safety or medical reasons and those animals need highly responsible owners to prevent litters. Spaying or neutering a bird is not a routine surgery like it is with many mammals and can be riskier. There are many other ways to prevent your birds from reproducing offspring. Removing eggs of egg-laying animals (the right way) is another method.
CAN YOU SPAY A FEMALE IN HEAT?
Although possible, most vets will probably advise against it due to more swelling and a higher risk of bleeding. This surgery may take longer and be more expensive.
CAN’T WE JUST SPAY THE FEMALES AS THEY HAVE THE LITTERS?
No darling, it takes two to tango if you missed biology class. The female can only have so many puppies/kittens at once, but the male can impregnate many females around the same time.
IF I KEEP THEM SAFE IN MY YARD, DO I STILL NEED TO SPAY & NEUTER THEM?
Yes, for sure! Do you know that guy called Murphy? Animals get in and out of yards and saying it was an unexpected litter doesn’t fly. If your pet is not spayed or neutered, you can totally expect it.
ARE THERE SPECIFIC PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
Apart from the usual veterinary advice like keeping your pet still and keeping the wound clean, you also need to phone your vet the moment you think something is not right and keep the freshly-neutered males away from non-spayed females for some time.
When it comes to male neuters for various species, after the testicles are removed, it takes time for all of the residual sperm to clear out of the pipes. Ask your vet how long, but some sources suggest days to weeks. During this time, a freshly-neutered male can still impregnate females.
IS THE PROCEDURE EXPENSIVE?
It probably depends on what you spend money on and whether your pet’s health is a priority to you. The cost of spaying or neutering depends on the sex, size, and age of the pet, your veterinarian’s fees, and a few other factors. Remember that spay or neuter surgery is a one-time cost and the cost far outweighs the cost of health-related issues due to not sterilizing or even for raising litters. There are many opportunities to do this at more affordable rates and adoption fees include it!
In general, spaying tends to be more expensive than neutering. Spaying involves opening your dog or cat’s stomach to access the animal’s reproductive organs where neutering is less complex.
The cost may vary from town to town, but according to Pawpawpets.com, the average cost of a spay in South Africa is around R1350 for a female cat and around R1800 to a crazy R4000 for a female dog. Neuters can cost around R750-R1000 for a male cat and around R1200 – R2500 for a male dog.
THE BIGGEST CRITICISM OF EARLY SPAY & NEUTER
There are always two sides to a coin and it is important to look at both.
Some research shows that in desexing spays and neuters – surgical procedures that remove the gonads and associated sex hormones – can have a long-term negative impact on their health.
The research mostly suggest this more in large dog breeds. The advice then is to have them spayed or neutered after they turned one year old, but again then they need a highly responsible owner. You must also remember that the relationship between sex hormones, health and wellness is more complex and can be influenced by many aspects like sex, breed, age, environment and more.
I have not yet seen these negative effects and I think there is more research needed on this as single case studies are not enough. With this massive overpopulation crisis worldwide, the benefits far outweigh the risk for me.
If this does occur, it seems that hormone restoration therapy may be beneficial to symptomatic spayed and neutered dogs.
What are alternatives then?
When a pet is left intact, it requires a highly responsible pet guardian who is fully committed to and capable of preventing mating and litters.
Another option is sterilizing so the testes or ovaries can continue to produce hormones. This can be accomplished through vasectomy and hysterectomy. According to Dr. Karen Becker, traditional spaying and neutering are basically the only techniques vets are currently taught and we need to change that.
Changing the fate of animals and the massive overpopulation crisis resolves around three principles namely sterilization, education, stricter and enforced laws for those who don’t respond to being asked nicely. No breeding can be “responsible” when we have a massive overpopulation crisis and when you support breeders, you are part of the problem.
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND JOIN THE SPAY & NEUTER REVOLUTION
Spay & neuter your pets.
Share, educate & advocate for it.
Donate to spay & neuter campaigns.
Support petitions on the topic.
Don’t support animal dealers, breeders, or pet shops that fuel the overpopulation crisis.
Adopt from reputable organizations.
Can you see now why reputable animal welfare organizations are all up-in-your-business about spay and neuter? Next week we will look at another big problem……… “free to good home” animals.
Laerskool Kruinpark seuns is die Jukskei Mpumalanga Liga wenners vir 2022!
Laerskool Kruinpark se O/13 A-span seuns is die Mpumalanga skole ligawenners vir die seuns afdeling en het algeheel 2de plek in die O/13 liga geëindig.
Die seuns dring deur na die Noordvaal Kampioenskappe wat die 17de September 2022 in Middelburg plaasvind.
Jukskei seisoen het vroeg in die derde kwartaal afgeskop, met ‘n eerste liga wedstryd wat in Middelburg plaasgevind het die 30ste Julie 2022.
Daarna was daar weer 13 Augustus 2022 in Morgenzon ‘n liga wedstryd waarna die die 27ste Augustus 2022 die finale liga wedstryd was.
Die seuns het baie hard hierdie kwartaal geoefen en met elke liga hulle alles ingesit om as ligawenners aangewys te word.
Laerskool Kruinpark O/13 A Jukskei span (van links na regs): Liam Barkley, Jakes Etchells, Jonathan Phillips (Kaptein), Louwrens Erasmus, Xavier le Roux
Laerskool Kruinpark se sportspanne vaar uitstekend hierdie jaar, met die 1ste Tennisspan seuns wat ook ligawenners van 2022 is, lees meer hier.
Om meer van Laerskool Kruinpark se prestasies te lees, of te sien wat die skool behels, volg gerus die skool se FB BLAD.
SAPS and Several entities joined hands in bringing a Gender Based Violence (GBV) awareness campaign to Secunda
The short awareness campaign was held at Secunda Mall on Saturday 17 August 2022.
The campaign was spearheaded by the Fire Licence Office at Secunda Saps. Firearms are increasingly used in GBV. The Bulletin reported on a few such cases in the past.
GBV knows now sacred grounds, and even some police members are victims of GBV. This is true for Females as well as Males.
The awareness campaign focused on letting people know that there is help. There are several groups that will help should the need arise. It is important to know that there are a lot of people that are willing to help, you just need to ask.
Everybody is telling victims to get out of the situation, it is extremely difficult at times. But there is help and you will be able to get out of the abusive situation.
The organisations that helped on Saturday are:
Thuthuzela centre
Women’s network
Men for change
Kuramus
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)
FCS
Anyone that needs any information or help can go to the Thuthuzela care centre at Evander Hospital. The Bulletin had the opportunity to visit the centre a while back and was impressed with the facility and staff. They will provide counselling also if needed.
Constable Busi Mthethwa and Warrant Officer Liesl Horack at the awareness campaign
Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) are one-stop facilities that have been introduced as a critical part of South Africa’s anti-rape strategy, aiming to reduce secondary victimisation and to build a case ready for successful prosecution. Fifty-one centres have been established since 2006.
The Thuthuzela project is led by the NPA’s Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit (SOCA), in partnership with various departments and donors as a response to the urgent need for an integrated strategy for prevention, response and support for rape victims. Since its establishment, the SOCA Unit has been working to develop best practices and policies that seek to eradicate the victimisation of women and children, while improving prosecution, particularly in the areas of sexual offences, maintenance, child justice and domestic violence.
Thuthuzela Care Centre operations: How does the TCC work?
Step 1: You can report a rape case directly to a TCC (based at community clinics or hospitals) or to a police station
Step 2: TCC staff will assist to get you immediate medical attention at the Centre
Step 3: TCC staff will arrange counselling services at the Centre
Step 4: TCC staff will assist you to open a police case (if you want to do so immediately or even at a later stage)
Step 5: TCC staff will arrange for on-going counselling and court preparation (if the case goes on trial)
Services offered at the Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs)
Welcome and comfort from a site co-coordinator or nurse.
An explanation of how the medical examination will be conducted and what clothing might be taken for evidence.
A consent form to sign that allows the doctor to conduct the medical examination.
A nurse in the examination room.
After the medical examination, there are bath or shower facilities for victim use.
An investigation officer will interview the survivor and take his/her statement.
A social worker or nurse will offer counselling.
A nurse arranges for follow-up visits, treatment and medication for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), HIV and AIDS.
A referral letter or appointment will be made for long-term counselling.
The victim (survivor) is offered transportation home by an ambulance or the investigating officer.
Arrangements for the survivor to go to a place of safety, if necessary.
Consultations with a specialist prosecutor before the case go to court.
Court preparation by a victim assistant officer.
An explanation of the outcome and update of the trial process by a case manager.
Police urge anyone with any information on Crime to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively, members of the public can send information via MYSAPSAPP. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous
