Proudly showcasing adopted and adored pets whose lives were changed forever because people gave them a chance. Proof that animals adopted from welfares make wonderful companions.

Jesse

Taryn Russ shares Jesse, who was adopted from Animal Welfare Helderberg
“Adopting a senior dog is one of the greatest joys I’ve known.
“Jesse is my third rescue over the years. At 11 years old, my new girl arrived at her forever home, her coat so deeply matted and full of tangles we couldn’t feel her skin. We mistakenly guessed she was obese as her struggling body moved around slowly and unsteadily, bearing the weight of years of neglect. Her nails were so long she’d developed her own unique gait to try and gain purchase on the floor.
“The hour-long drive back to my home started with her trembling and awkward in the car; thirty minutes in, she had her head up, embracing the smells and the wind blowing over her smiling face!
“In just a few hours she’d settled in to her new home with such gentle curiosity – sniffing, exploring, and happily napping in between.
“The next morning, she had her first groom, being sheared like a sheep to reveal a sleek lean body, quite literally shaving years off her. Her nails trimmed and weight off her long skinny legs, she bounded around, albeit carefully.
“She leans in for every stroke of my hand, kisses on her nose and soaking up the love she may have missed before.
“Senior dogs have so much to offer, and to be able to make her final years full of comfort, kindness, and dignity is the most rewarding gift I can give!”

Pretty

Nicci Morris shares Pretty
“Pretty comes from a horrible breeding situation where she was kept in a cage for years for breeding. She’s had almost no interaction with humans so is very shy and sometimes scared, but we give her space to come to us when she’s comfortable, and to enjoy her friendships with the other cats in the house.
“Pretty is a work in progress, and we hope to keep encouraging her to come out of her shell soon.”

Mister B

Photo credit: Framed Media
Sanette Bosman shares Mister B
“In February 2020, a sweet little pup, dirty and covered in fleas, was brought to the local SPCA, having been found all by himself in a field. He was estimated to be around three weeks old and his breed was anyone’s guess (turned out he was a Wirehaired Terrier cross).
“At the time, I was still on their committee and involved with his care due to spending a lot of time at the shelter. We named him ‘Mister B’, which was actually a tongue-in-cheek name that would’ve been temporary until he was adopted. By the time he was ready for a new home, he’d stolen my heart and I applied to adopt him and his name stuck.
“Anyone who knows him will tell you he’s a ‘talker’ and ball-mad – his favourite red ball often ends up in bed with us, in the water bowl, or has a search party looking where he last ‘lost’ it under a couch or the bed, behind a cupboard, or randomly lying outside under the tree.
“I adore him, he’s my cuddler – during winter, I have to lift up the blanket and he’ll get in, make a quick U-turn to lie as tight as possible against my chest, and I wrap my arm around him with his head on my pillow (or sometimes snuggled in my neck).”

Sammy

Roselie Bester shares Sammy
“We adopted Sammy when her owner emigrated to the Netherlands. She’s always so curious and on a mission.
“She’s also always bringing us some sort of gift, either a feather, plant, or stone from the garden. She loves water and swimming, and absolutely squeals with delight when going for ‘walkies’.
“Sammy also loves toys, especially balls, and is quite the agility dog by jumping in the air to catch them.
“Adopting her has been a delight for our family.”

Fiji

Photo credit: Framed Media
Sanette Bosman shares Fiji
“Fiji was noticed living in a bushy area close to a church property for around two weeks in April of 2021. They tried to catch her without success, but, thanks to their patience, they finally managed to lure and secure her. She was taken to the SPCA as a stray and never claimed. She was scared, bewildered, dirty and severely matted. She had to be shaved completely and her fur looked like a whole other dog lying beside her.
“She was malnourished and thin, too, mostly moving around in a hunched position (for several months even after adoption). She’s such a petite doggie with legs for days, thought possibly to be a Maltese cross Miniature Pinscher. My heart broke at the sight of her; I spent a lot of time helping to care for her and our bond grew – it was inevitable – I applied to adopt her and she’s been my sweetheart ever since.
“To this day, she still shows signs of trauma, flattening herself along the floor if anyone, including me, wants to pick her up. I can’t even begin to imagine what her life was like before, how she was treated or how long she had to survive on her own.
“Her absolute favourite day of the week is Sunday – the air is filled with excitement and little yelps of happiness when I mention that we’re going to Grandma’s. She adores her granny and vice versa. Every Sunday the same scene plays out: short screams of excitement in the car when she sees we’re getting close, bolting out of the car, then squeezing through the barely opened door, running into the living room and jumping on the couch with granny making a big fuss over her, followed by a specially cooked meal and sleeping on granny’s lap.
“Fiji visited the coast for the first time last year and loved every moment. She’s adored and finally lives like the princess she is.”

Penny

Nicci Morris shares Penny
“We got Penny from a rescue centre as a puppy 14 years ago. She’s still in great health and loves her daily walkies.
“Penny has the most incredible maternal instinct, so she helps me when fostering orphaned kittens or puppies by making them feel safe. She cleans them and has a lot of patience when the kittens and puppies like to jump or play on and around her.”