She saves lives on a daily basis, but when this first responder is not out helping humans she rescues, takes home, and cares for stray animals across Nelson Mandela Bay.
Nicolette Muller (49), an Intermediate Life Support paramedic at Gardmed Ambulance Services, has been a beacon of hope for many abused and abandoned animals, and she has managed to rehome quite a few, whilst making others a part of her family.
“I never set out to rescue an animal. They somehow find their way to me. I see so many of them in dire need of food, water and warmth, many that are starved and riddled with worms and so many that walk the streets, and others that have just had puppies,” said Muller.
“I re-home a few of the rescues, but generally I keep them. We took in seven cats, two moms and five kittens. We were able to find homes for the kittens, but we kept the two moms, had them spayed, and between my daughter and myself we have seven cats and seven dogs,” she added.
She explained that her last two rescues are two puppies that really needed help.
Daisy was a very tiny puppy running around the streets of NU2 in Motherwell and, when no one claimed her after asking around, Muller took her home.
Poppy, who was rescued from New Brighton, was in terrible pain because a link from a chain that was presumably tied around her neck at one stage, was stuck in the flesh in her neck.
“No one knew where she stayed, but she was just walking in the street and when I called her to say hello, she rolled over and I saw this. I just took her; it didn’t matter to me if she had an owner or not, but I could not leave her like that.”
Muller said that it is not an easy job, because she tries to either keep the animals that she takes in or find a home for them with family or colleagues.”
“It’s hard letting them go, but my daughter shares my passion and she somehow makes space for half of them.”
When asked what the most challenging part of her rescue mission is, Muller answered: the vet bills.
“I have people I go to who help with animal welfare rates when it comes to having them spayed, and my fiancé, Greg, must have bald spots already from helping with finances!
“A rescue to me just seems to love differently. I can’t explain it; I don’t know if it’s me who helps them or at the end of the day them that help me. I just find such joy in having them around me,” she said.
“It is very, very sad that we all can’t save just one animal. I think if each household could help at least one, the world would be less of a sad place.”
