Written by Cheryl Gaw, Founder and Manager of Pug Rescue South Africa
Professional photography by Framed Media
Betsie, a sweet elderly Pug, was found abandoned in a cardboard box – no food, no water and no blanket – on a remote road, on a cold day, more than 1,000km from the safety of Pug Rescue South Africa.
Abandoned, rejected and forlorn, her story could have ended there.
Thankfully, a kind passer-by noticed her and reached out for help. After a vet check to confirm that Betsie could make the journey to Pug Rescue South Africa, she was placed in a loving foster home while arrangements were made to bring her safely to Benoni. She’s now settling in beautifully, making friends with three other Pugs and enjoying the love she deserves.
Betsie has had two follow-up visits at the local veterinarian in Gqeberha where she’s being treated for a severe skin condition and ear infection. She had blood tests to check her kidneys and, fortunately, we had the outcome we were hoping for.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters in South Africa, the UK, the USA, Australia, Germany, and Austria, Betsie’s travel and veterinary care are fully funded. Her journey home will be long – an 11-hour drive one way – but every kilometre is worth it for a life saved.
Betsie’s not yet available for adoption. Once she arrives at Pug Rescue, and if our vet considers it low risk, she’ll be sterilised. If sterilisation poses too high a risk for Betsie, she’ll remain under Pug Rescue’s lifelong care.
No one should ever feel they have no option other than leaving their animals at the side of the road. There are many rescue organisations and in many towns there are SPCAs. Pug Rescue South Africa is here to help Pugs with compassion, never judgement.
Pug Rescue South Africa cares for, on average, 195 dogs – mostly Pugs – on any given day. The. organisation also has an initiative, The Thanda Inja Project, where for the past 12 years they’ve been taking veterinary care to a community in need in Daveyton in partnership with private practice vets and the State vet. Our focus is on sterilisation to have a reduced, healthy population of companion animals. We rescue Pugs throughout South Africa.
For more information, follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PugRescueSA and visit the website at https://pugrescue.co.za/.
