Rescue Team - Rescue Project Manager Deborah
Roodewal Kennels was exposed as a large miniature schnauzer puppy farm empire. With a kingpin at the top doing the marketing with many other breeders contracted to supply miniature schnauzer puppies into the network. It has been shut down. Between Schnauzer Friends South Africa and the SPCA's 320 breeding ex Roodewal Kennel breeding stock schnauzers were rescued, sterilized, medically treated and rehomed into loving homes. These dogs were kept in horrific conditions outside with little human contact, while locked into the breeding cycle, without a voice of their own. Many were emotionally broken and need extensive rehabilitation. They now have a chance to be loved pets!
A Community Closes Down a Schnauzer Puppy Farm using Social Media
Author: Deborah Blane
(Schnauzer Friends South Africa Founder)
DATE: July 2016
In August 2014, I started the Schnauzer Friends South Africa Community with a Facebook page and website. The aim of the community was to “Love, celebrate, share and enjoy the Schnauzer breed with a focus on Schnauzer RESCUE”. Little did I know that our community of schnauzer lovers would unite together and change the lives of so many schnauzers for the better.
Roodewal Kennels in Ermelo Mpumalanga, advertised in most of the animal magazines, on websites, Facebook etc. The puppies were KUSA or SACBR registered. They advertised with the slogan "Breeders of Top Quality Miniature Schnauzers" and on the website the owner said "Breeding miniature schnauzers has been a passion of mine since 1984. The kennel is close to my home and my dogs get a lots of love and attention. I love breeding the miniature schnauzers, and I find that I am totally addicted to the dogs and spend most of my day working with the dogs."
We received many complaints from people around South Africa, who were buying puppies from Roodewal Kennels. The puppies were sick and many dying after a few days of taking delivery. The story was consistent - the puppies were always delivered, if they were sick or died, they were offered a replacement. They were all told it was a once off case and had never happened before. Something was clearly wrong at Roodewal Kennels.
The type of complaints received were as follows:
We tried to engage with the owner of Roodewal Kennels but were ignored. We started publishing the communities complaints on our Facebook page and website, and more and more schnauzer owners came forward who had also had a similar experience’s with Roodewal Kennels. It was going back over 5 years. The people who had fallen for the glossy marketing were cross and upset.
Using social media, the Schnauzer community made it impossible for Roodewal Kennels to sell puppies. We were threatened with legal action but the community stood together. We knew that we needed to be a voice for the voiceless. We needed to stop the suffering and pain!
In April 2015 we were contacted by a Roodewal Kennel “contract breeder” living on a farm in Mpumalanga. They had been delivering on average 20 schnauzer puppies a month to Roodewal Kennels. They surrendered 70 breeding schnauzers and 40 puppies to Schnauzer Friends for rehoming. The first time the Schnauzer Friends rescue team visited this contract breeder, there were 180 dogs of various breeds in pens outside. The noise was indescribable as they jostled for some attention. Many ran away hiding in fear. It was painful for animal lovers to see how people can treat animals for financial gain. The rescue team still have nightmares to this day.
As the magnitude and horrors of the Roodewal Kennel breeding operation and the network of contract breeders was uncovered, the project became larger and larger. More Roodewal “contract breeders” came forward as they had no way of selling the puppies and wanted to get rid of the breeding schnauzers. Many of these schnauzers were in desperate need of socialisation and medical care.
On the 5th June 2015, a warrant was obtained to enter the actual Roodewal Kennels in Ermelo. The SPCA, SAPS and Ermelo Animal Rescue confiscated another 76 schnauzers. Here is an article published by the Sandton SPCA describing what they found:
Rescued: The dark side of breeding (25 June 2015) SOURCE: http://www.sandtonspca.org.za/rescued-the-dark-side-of-breeding/
“Our colleagues from Highveld Ridge SPCA recently seized 76 Schnauzers from Roodewal Kennels in Ermelo after a raid on the breeders premises. 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. Schnauzer friends South Africa assisted the SPCA in identifying this horrific situation. The reality is that every year, retail pet stores across South Africa sell thousands of dogs, while millions of dogs enter shelters across South Africa.”
The last rescued schnauzers went home in November 2015. Nearly all the schnauzers rescued were scared of people, loud noises, hose pipes and brooms. Some seemed to have lost the will to live and just stared blankly into space. When the schnauzers were adopted, typical behaviour was to go and find the nearest bush and hide. A year later, some of the schnauzers are still undergoing intensive rehabilitation as horrors of the puppy farm are entrenched into their souls.
Our Schnauzer Friends community, dedicated schnauzer adopters, rescue team and behaviourist Scotty Valadao we have become a family of schnauzer lovers who are committed to give these rescued dogs the life they deserve. They are all getting a second chance at life. The Schnauzer Friends matra is #gettingthewagback and we sure achieved this.
Between Schnauzer Friends South Africa, Woodrock Animal Rescue and the SPCA, 320 schnauzers were eventually rescued, sterilized, medically treated and rehomed into loving homes.
Towards of the end of the project, due to our community’s ongoing pressure, we received a written apology, thank you and a donation to rescue from the owner of Roodewal Kennels. This means that many more rescue schnauzers can be helped going forward. A huge thank you to core rescue team members Deborah Blane, Chris Kritzinger, Jacqui Chetty, Ros Barnard, Sheryll Steyn, Carol-Ann Myburgh and Jeanne Duminy who are all volunteers and contributed a vast amount of time, love and dedication for this amazing rescue project.
Our rescue project shows that good can overcome evil. A community can stand together and say no. Animal abuse must not be tolerated! Do your homework. You may have brought a cute puppy, but if the parents are suffering in horrible conditions, you are contributing to this evil trade.
Do not support puppy farmers and backyard breeders. Even better adopt, don’t shop.
Author: Deborah Blane
(Schnauzer Friends South Africa Founder)
DATE: July 2016
In August 2014, I started the Schnauzer Friends South Africa Community with a Facebook page and website. The aim of the community was to “Love, celebrate, share and enjoy the Schnauzer breed with a focus on Schnauzer RESCUE”. Little did I know that our community of schnauzer lovers would unite together and change the lives of so many schnauzers for the better.
Roodewal Kennels in Ermelo Mpumalanga, advertised in most of the animal magazines, on websites, Facebook etc. The puppies were KUSA or SACBR registered. They advertised with the slogan "Breeders of Top Quality Miniature Schnauzers" and on the website the owner said "Breeding miniature schnauzers has been a passion of mine since 1984. The kennel is close to my home and my dogs get a lots of love and attention. I love breeding the miniature schnauzers, and I find that I am totally addicted to the dogs and spend most of my day working with the dogs."
We received many complaints from people around South Africa, who were buying puppies from Roodewal Kennels. The puppies were sick and many dying after a few days of taking delivery. The story was consistent - the puppies were always delivered, if they were sick or died, they were offered a replacement. They were all told it was a once off case and had never happened before. Something was clearly wrong at Roodewal Kennels.
The type of complaints received were as follows:
- We bought a puppy and 5 days later our hearts were broken because she died from parvovirus. She suffered so much, it killed us. Still to this day our hearts break when we think of our baby Marley. We were offered a replacement.
- We had our little puppy for 2 nights and he spent his next (and last) 2 nights at the vet before passing away. This puppy suffered terribly. Parvo, distemper, and worms like nothing ever witnessed before!
- I brought two puppies who were flown to the Cape. Their skin was not good and needed to be treated. One puppy was clumsy and lethargic and could not stand up straight. We took him to the vet and he had a growth under his tail and as a result could not poo. The vet had to euthanise him. The next Tuesday we were sent a replacement puppy.
- When my puppy landed at the airport he stunk. His skin was so infected that the vet put him on antibiotics for 6 weeks and then 6 months on a special prescription diet. I had to bath him weekly with medicated shampoo. It was very expensive.
We tried to engage with the owner of Roodewal Kennels but were ignored. We started publishing the communities complaints on our Facebook page and website, and more and more schnauzer owners came forward who had also had a similar experience’s with Roodewal Kennels. It was going back over 5 years. The people who had fallen for the glossy marketing were cross and upset.
Using social media, the Schnauzer community made it impossible for Roodewal Kennels to sell puppies. We were threatened with legal action but the community stood together. We knew that we needed to be a voice for the voiceless. We needed to stop the suffering and pain!
In April 2015 we were contacted by a Roodewal Kennel “contract breeder” living on a farm in Mpumalanga. They had been delivering on average 20 schnauzer puppies a month to Roodewal Kennels. They surrendered 70 breeding schnauzers and 40 puppies to Schnauzer Friends for rehoming. The first time the Schnauzer Friends rescue team visited this contract breeder, there were 180 dogs of various breeds in pens outside. The noise was indescribable as they jostled for some attention. Many ran away hiding in fear. It was painful for animal lovers to see how people can treat animals for financial gain. The rescue team still have nightmares to this day.
As the magnitude and horrors of the Roodewal Kennel breeding operation and the network of contract breeders was uncovered, the project became larger and larger. More Roodewal “contract breeders” came forward as they had no way of selling the puppies and wanted to get rid of the breeding schnauzers. Many of these schnauzers were in desperate need of socialisation and medical care.
On the 5th June 2015, a warrant was obtained to enter the actual Roodewal Kennels in Ermelo. The SPCA, SAPS and Ermelo Animal Rescue confiscated another 76 schnauzers. Here is an article published by the Sandton SPCA describing what they found:
Rescued: The dark side of breeding (25 June 2015) SOURCE: http://www.sandtonspca.org.za/rescued-the-dark-side-of-breeding/
“Our colleagues from Highveld Ridge SPCA recently seized 76 Schnauzers from Roodewal Kennels in Ermelo after a raid on the breeders premises. 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. Schnauzer friends South Africa assisted the SPCA in identifying this horrific situation. The reality is that every year, retail pet stores across South Africa sell thousands of dogs, while millions of dogs enter shelters across South Africa.”
The last rescued schnauzers went home in November 2015. Nearly all the schnauzers rescued were scared of people, loud noises, hose pipes and brooms. Some seemed to have lost the will to live and just stared blankly into space. When the schnauzers were adopted, typical behaviour was to go and find the nearest bush and hide. A year later, some of the schnauzers are still undergoing intensive rehabilitation as horrors of the puppy farm are entrenched into their souls.
Our Schnauzer Friends community, dedicated schnauzer adopters, rescue team and behaviourist Scotty Valadao we have become a family of schnauzer lovers who are committed to give these rescued dogs the life they deserve. They are all getting a second chance at life. The Schnauzer Friends matra is #gettingthewagback and we sure achieved this.
Between Schnauzer Friends South Africa, Woodrock Animal Rescue and the SPCA, 320 schnauzers were eventually rescued, sterilized, medically treated and rehomed into loving homes.
Towards of the end of the project, due to our community’s ongoing pressure, we received a written apology, thank you and a donation to rescue from the owner of Roodewal Kennels. This means that many more rescue schnauzers can be helped going forward. A huge thank you to core rescue team members Deborah Blane, Chris Kritzinger, Jacqui Chetty, Ros Barnard, Sheryll Steyn, Carol-Ann Myburgh and Jeanne Duminy who are all volunteers and contributed a vast amount of time, love and dedication for this amazing rescue project.
Our rescue project shows that good can overcome evil. A community can stand together and say no. Animal abuse must not be tolerated! Do your homework. You may have brought a cute puppy, but if the parents are suffering in horrible conditions, you are contributing to this evil trade.
Do not support puppy farmers and backyard breeders. Even better adopt, don’t shop.
