Teddy

Written by Jenny Pike – St Francis Animal Rescue

Professional photography by Luc Hosten

Bedraggled, covered in dreadlocks and wounds, starving and petrified – and utterly depressed. The dog’s dreadlocks were so long that he had faeces stuck to them, and beneath the matts and knots were open sores. That’s how we met Panda – now Teddy – on Wednesday the 3^rd of September 2025.

We’d come across him while carrying out our bi-weekly walks with Kouga Municipality Law Enforcement, covering different areas of Sea Vista. We look for dogs and cats requiring sterilisation and medical care, and checking on their living conditions, not to mention educating owners as to how to look after their animals. Accompanied by officers Johnny Hayward and Kevin Burger, we were among the informal settlement of Kosovo when we spotted him, slumped outside a shack near the Cape St Francis Road.

The very next day, volunteer Amanda Tiedt collected Panda to bring him to our Weekly Outreach for bathing, grooming and medical care. Volunteers started making him more comfortable by cutting off the worst of his matted hair, followed by a bath. His visible wounds were treated, he received an antiparasitic ivermectin injection for his mange, and he was dewormed and vaccinated.

We then set about trimming off the rest of his knots. As each matted chunk came off, more and more bite wounds could be seen – along with the most terrible case of sarcoptic mange which had been left untreated for months, if not years. His teeth were worn down from trying to alleviate his itchy skin. Overall, a terrible case of absolute neglect. (In fact, we initially planned to lay a charge of neglect with the police, but, as he was surrendered over into our care, we didn’t proceed – it’s near impossible to prosecute these cases and takes huge amounts of money and time.)

After much negotiation with his owner (whose mother was “looking after him” – although clearly not the case!), they finally agreed to release him to our care. We took him straight to Humansdorp Vet Clinic, where Dr Annelise Barker diagnosed chronic mange infestation and severe neglect. She prescribed a course of antibiotics and further mange treatment.

Next, he moved in to our boarding facility in Humansdorp at Juadeen Van Rooyen’s Kennels, where his rehabilitation continued – along with good food and daily quality time with our dog handler, Ilise Human. Once strong enough, he was also sterilised. It took time, patience, and hard work, but slowly Panda recovered. His emaciated body started filling out. His skin healed. His tail began to wag.

Melanie and Gavin saw Panda’s story and fell in love. Nearly two weeks to the day since we first found Panda, they travelled the 60km from Gqeberha to meet him. He wasn’t yet ready to be adopted, but the process to finding him the home of his dreams had begun.

Almost one month later, on the 30^th of September, he was a different dog, and ready to go to his new home, where he received a new name for his new life – Teddy. We couldn’t wish for a happier ending for our gorgeous boy, completely transformed, both physically and mentally!

Huge thanks to our incredible leader, Susan Rae Fox, and everyone involved in his rescue and rehabilitation.

Melanie Botha, Teddy’s new owner, shares...

The first time I saw Teddy on the St Francis Animal Rescue page, emaciated, matted and lying in the dirt, I was overwhelmed with shock and sadness. I looked into that devastated face and those haunted eyes and thought, “I’m coming for you, my old boy!” I knew instantly he’d be spending the rest of his days with us.

Teddy is a dignified, eccentric old gentleman who’s moved into our home and hearts with a quiet sense of hope that grows daily, as does his confidence.

This gentle old soul is here to teach me the very deepest sense of compassion and connection to all of those less fortunate than ourselves.

He’s finding his joy and his big spirit is just starting to shine. Teddy makes us laugh a lot. He’s a morning person, and very chatty, particularly when he wakes up. He’s my shadow boy and will undoubtedly be one of my life’s biggest loves.

We’re so blessed to be sharing our lives with him!