AHF in Beeld

Uitsettingsbevel

Artikel in Afrikaans

Uurglas loop leeg vir wolf-tuiste

Terwyl die uurglas vir ’n skuiling vir wolwe en ander diere leegloop, het ’n regsfirma ’n aansoek om verlof tot appèl ingedien om die uitsettingsbevel teen die All Hearts Foundation (AHF) teen te staan.

Sou dit misluk en sou die stigting dan nie voor 30 April minstens R1 miljoen kan neersit in ’n poging om ’n koopaanbod op die perseel wat hulle huur, te doen nie, wag ’n onbekende lot op die diere in hul sorg.

Die AHF (en die wolwe en an-der diere) is midde-in ’n naelbyt-wedloop teen tyd met die hoop op ’n reusewonderwerk voor “D-dag”.

Ronnie en Lexi Austen van die AHF moet teen einde vandeesmaand ingevolge die uitsettings-bevel die perseel naby Hartbeespoort ontruim.

Hulle is sedert die Covid-19-in-perking in ’n oorlewingstryd gewikkel.

“Niemand het ’n internasionale pandemie voorsien nie en almal is hard getref. Die Covid-19-inperking het ons regtig in die moeilikheid gekry,” sê Lexi.

As ’n organisasie sonder winsbejag wat afhanklik is van skenkings, asook die opvoedkundige programme en skoolbesoeke wat hulle aanbied, is hul inkomste erg getref, sê sy.

Elke sent tot hul beskikking moes gebruik word vir die versorging van die 31 wolwe, 25 kat-te, een perd, een wolf-hibried, agt skape, sewe voëls, 22 honde en twee varke – almal gered uit traumatiese omstandighede en van ’n gewisse dood.

Vir die eerste keer sedert die AHF se bestaan kon hulle nie die huurgeld bybring nie en die eie-naars het ’n uitsettingsbevel bekom.

Die hof het die AHF (en hul diere) tot einde vandeesmaand grasie gegee om óf te trek óf ’n koopaanbod te doen.

Die eienaars wil R3,8 miljoen vir die 21 ha-perseel hê.

Die AHF moet teen middel vandeesmaand minstens R1 miljoen neersit om reeds teen 30 April ’n verband te kan hê.

En aangesien hulle emosioneel, geldelik en fisiek in die AHF en die diere belê het – soos Ronnie, wat byna elke heining self opgesit het – en die plan altyd was om eendag die stuk grond te kan koop, het die Austens besef: Hulle sal moet hand opsteek en vra om hulp.

Hulle, hul ondersteuners en diereliefhebbers het begin voort-stu na ’n “wonderwerk, net dalk,” en met oop harte en ver-skeie skenkings wat wissel van R5 tot R7 000 reeds net meer as R200 000 ingesamel.

“Dit is ongelooflik hoe almal net uitgereik het. Ons is nederig dankbaar.

“Elke enkele R5 maak ’n reuseverskil,” sê Lexi.

Dit is wel ’n druppel aan die emmer van wat hulle kort.

Intussen het die AHF nie net bakhand stilgesit nie.

Lexi en Ronnie het gaan uit-vind oor ’n verband en is ingelig dat hulle minstens R1 miljoen moet hê vir ’n 90%-kans om een te kan uitneem.

Dié bedrag, asook die goedgekeurde aansoek, moet alles voor einde vandeesmaand reg wees.

Intussen het Schindlers-prokureurs van die AHF se titaniese stryd gehoor en gratis ‘n aansoek om verlof tot appél teen die uitsettingsbevel ingedien.

Die AHF kon dit nie voorheen doen nie omdat hy nie geld vir die regskoste gehad het nie.

Nou bid hulle dat die aansoek suksesvol is.

“Ons het regtig ‘n oplossing, ‘n ooreenkoms, met die eienaars probeer bereik, maar hulle wil die grond verkoop. Ons probeer aan hulle gee wat hulle wil hê sodat ons ons diere se huis kan red.”

Om te trek met die diere – sonder die uitgawe van ‘n nuwe perseel – sal hulle meer as R900 000 kos.

Die Austen-egpaar voel as hulle daardie bedrag kan bymekaarmaak, kan hulle netsowel probeer om die plek waar die diere reeds gevestig is, te koop.

“Ons het net baie, baie min tyd oor,” erken hulle, in die hoop dat nog mense of organisasies sal belê in die toekoms van die eens weggegooide diere.

“Ons is positief dat ons hierdie kan maak gebeur. Daar is altyd hoop.

“Elke lewende wese het ‘n siel en op die ou einde is ons doel om te dien.

“Ons gaan dus nie ophou probeer nie. Hierdie wolwe is elke vegkans werd.”

Article in English

Hourglass is running out for wolf home

While the hourglass for a shelter for wolves and other animals is busy running out, a law firm has applied for leave to appeal to oppose the eviction order against the All Hearts Foundation (AHF).

Should this fail and the foundation would not be able to invest at least R1 million before 30 April in an attempt to make a purchase offer on the premises they rent, an unknown fate awaits the animals in their care.

The AHF (and the wolves and other animals) are in the middle of a nail-biting race against time with the hope of a giant miracle before “D-day”.

Ronnie and Lexi Austen of the AHF must vacate the premises near Hartbeespoort by the end of this month in terms of the eviction order.

They have been embroiled in a struggle for survival since the COVID-19 hit.

“Nobody foresaw an international pandemic and everyone was hit hard. The Covid-19 restriction really got us in trouble, ”says Lexi.

As a non-profit organization that depends on donations, as well as the educational programs and school visits they offer, their income has been hit hard, she says.

Every penny at their disposal had to be used to care for the 31 wolves, 25 cats, one horse, one wolf hybrid, eight sheep, seven birds, 22 dogs and two pigs – all rescued from traumatic circumstances and from a certain death.

For the first time since the AHF’s existence, they could not afford the rent and the owners obtained an eviction order.

The court granted the AHF (and their animals) until the end of this month to either withdraw or make a purchase offer.

The owners want R3.8 million for the 21 ha site.

The AHF must deposit at least R1 million by the middle of this month in order to have a mortgage by 30 April.

And since they invested emotionally, financially and physically in the AHF and the animals – like Ronnie, who put up almost every fence himself – and the plan was always to be able to buy the piece of land one day, the Austen’s realized: They will have to raise their hand and ask for help.

They, their supporters and animal lovers have started to push for a “miracle, just maybe,” and with open hearts and various donations ranging from R5 to R7 000 have already raised just over R200 000.

“It’s unbelievable how everyone just reached out. We are humbly grateful.

“Every single R5 makes a huge difference,” says Lexi.

It is a drop in the bucket of what they need.

Meanwhile, the AHF has not just idly sat by.

Lexi and Ronnie found out about a mortgage and were informed that they must have at least R1 million for a 90% chance of being able to take one out.

This amount, as well as the approved application, must all be ready before the end of this month.

Meanwhile, Schindler’s lawyers heard of the AHF’s titanic battle and filed a free application for leave to appeal against the eviction order.

The AHF could not do this before because it did not have money for the legal costs.

Now they are praying that the application will be successful.

“We really tried to reach a solution, an agreement, with the owners, but they want to sell the land. We try to give them what they want so we can save our animals’ house.”

Moving with the animals – without the expense of new premises – will cost them more than R900 000.

The Austen couple feel if they can raise that amount, they might as well try to buy the place where the animals are already settled.

“We have very, very little time left,” they admit, hoping more people or organizations will invest in the future of the once-thrown-away animals.

“We are positive that we can make this happen. There is always hope.

“Every living thing has a soul and in the end it’s our purpose to serve it.

“So we are not going to stop trying. These wolves are worth every fight.”

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