Written by Founder, Jason Hayman
“Why I Started Chocolate’s Angels”
People often ask me why I started an animal rescue. The truth is, I didn’t plan it. I didn’t have money. I didn’t have a grand strategy. What I did have was a deep love for animals – and one very special dog named Chocolate…
It all started with a pup named Chocolate
Chocolate came into my life as a tiny pup – fragile, innocent, and full of spirit. She was my first real rescue, and little did I know back then that she’d change the course of my life forever.
As she grew, Chocolate got seriously ill – not once, but twice – with parvo, a deadly virus that takes the lives of countless puppies. Both times, vets told me the same thing: it’s best to let her go. But I couldn’t do that. I looked into her eyes and saw a fighter. So I took her home.
With round-the-clock care, medication, love, and pure determination, Chocolate pulled through – not just once, but twice. She survived, and in doing so, she taught me what resilience truly means. She became the heart and soul of everything I do today.
Chocolate opened my eyes to the suffering right under our noses: dogs tied to chains in the cold, puppies dumped like trash, cats left to starve. I couldn’t unsee it. I couldn’t walk away. So, I started helping. One animal became two. Two became ten. And before I knew it, Chocolate’s Angels was born.
A place where the unwanted become family
At Chocolate's Angels Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, we take in the broken ones. The sick. The abused. The old and forgotten. We don’t turn animals away because they’re “too far gone”. Every life matters here. We provide them with medical care, food, shelter, and, most importantly, love. Some are rehomed, some live out their lives with us – but all are treated like family.
We’re based in Kalbaskraal, a rural community 15km from Malmesbury. That means when an animal is in trouble, we get the call. We’ve had dogs dropped at our gate with chains embedded in their necks. Cats with shattered limbs. Puppies on the brink of death. And we take them all in, because if we don’t, who will?
Chained for change – and a dream still waiting
Years later, inspired by dogs like Chocolate and others who spend their lives tied up and forgotten, on Madiba Day I took on the 240-hour “Chained for Change” Challenge. For ten days straight, I chained myself to a kennel, sleeping outside in the cold, to raise awareness for the suffering of chained dogs and to raise funds for our dream: a new home for Chocolate’s Angels.
We’d found a piece of land, big enough to build a proper rescue centre – a true sanctuary. But despite pouring my heart into the campaign, we raised only four per cent of our target.
Still, I haven’t given up. That dream is now our bucket-list mission: to build a safe, functional rescue space where we can not only save more animals, but help their humans too. Because in rural communities, people and animals often suffer together – and both deserve a chance.
The hardest part isn’t the animals – it’s the bills
Running an animal rescue is a full-time commitment – physically, emotionally, and financially. On average, our monthly costs are around R60,000. That covers rent, food, vet bills, transport, wages for our small team, and basic utilities. We don’t receive any government assistance or corporate sponsorships. Everything we have is thanks to the kindness of strangers – people who believe in what we’re doing.
To be honest, there are nights I lie awake wondering how we’ll keep the doors open another month. But then I look into the eyes of a dog who’s finally safe… and I know we have to keep fighting.
How you can help us keep going
We survive on love and donations. If you’re reading this and want to help, there are so many ways:
- Even a monthly debit order of R50 or R100 can make a massive difference.
- You can sponsor a kennel for R500, providing a warm, dry shelter to a dog who’s never had one.
- We always need dog and cat food, blankets, building materials, or shade netting.
- If you can’t donate, just share our posts, follow us on Facebook, or tell a friend about us.
Every small act counts.
For more information, contact 061 870 8967, email jason@chocolates-angels.org.za, visit https://chained240.org.za or follow on Facebook.
