A DOG'S LIFE

A DOG lover is taking on a new challenge to raise awareness of freezing furry friends by chaining himself to his dog kennel for 240 hours.

Director of Chocolate’s Angels animal rescue, Jason Hayman, told the Daily Voice that his main aim is to create awareness for dogs living their lives on chains and to raise funds to expand the rescue centre.

His 10 days in the dog box starts on the commemoration of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on 18 July and runs until 27 July.

Hayman says: “Too many dogs in Kalbaskraal live their whole lives chained, exposed to the cold with little or no shelter. This winter, I’m spending 240 hours chained to a kennel to raise awareness and funds for these animals.

“Our hope is for 240 company's individuals to each sponsor an hour at R1 000 or two or three. We have been running our rescue for five years on a full-time basis and we have grown in a huge way over the years.

“We bought a bigger property that is six times the size at the moment so it would be a big game changer.

“And obviously people would ask: ‘why during the cold season?’. It is to create awareness.

“We are freezing so can you imagine what the animals feel like? Yes, they have fur but a lot of them are skin-and-bones and it does not matter how much fur they got they still freeze.”

Jason said that some of the dogs that he has rescued didn’t even have shelter and with the winter taking the Kaap in its icy grip, he is taking action. 

It’s not the first time he will suffer a dog’s life.

Jason previously chained himself up for 60 hours which raised R40 000 in a July 2023 campaign. And in December 2023, he did 100 hours in the dogbox, raising over R90 000.

The majority of the proceeds went to vet accounts pushing for sterilisations and two big campaigns were launched.

The organisation appealed to the public to also assist with kennels, blankets, food, medical care, vaccinations, deworming and sterilisations.

Hayman said: “No animal should suffer like this. Stand with me – and help give them a better life. Help us with the next phase of Chocolate's Angels’ growth.”