Rescue, Rehab and Re-home Street Dogs in Africa

Dear Friends and Supporters,

As we look back over the last three months, we are struck by the sheer resilience of the 200+ dogs currently in our care and the immense dedication of our tiny team of three.

While our mission is to save lives, the reality of running a rescue haven of this size is a daily exercise in logistics, love, and very tough decision-making. We wanted to share an update on the progress we are making and the hurdles we are working to overcome.

Field Update: The Battle Against Tick Bite Fever

Our team recently returned from an intensive outreach mission in the local townships. We found dozens of dogs in desperate condition, their bodies overwhelmed by ticks. This isn't just a matter of discomfort; these parasites carry Tick Bite Fever, a silent killer that can wipe out a population if left unchecked.

Our team spent days going door-to-door, hand-treating 20 dogs, soothing their raw skin, and removing thousands of ticks one by one. It was a heart-wrenching sight, but seeing the dogs stand quietly, almost in gratitude, reminds us why we do this.

Unfortunately, the threat followed us back to the haven. One of our most gentle rescues, Cocoa, is currently in the fight of her life after a single infected tick slipped through our defenses. She has been rushed to emergency care, and we are doing everything in our power to see her through this.

The Challenges of the "Haven"

With 200 dogs and only three staff members, one on rescue and outreach, one managing the shelter, and one focusing on re-homing and admin, so we are stretched thin. Our rescue manager continues to handle midnight emergency calls, ensuring the "rescue phone" never goes unanswered.

However, the financial reality of this level of care is significant. To give you a picture of what it takes to keep this mission moving:

• Monthly Food Bill: $650

• Monthly Medication: $200

• Salaries and Rent: $1,200

• Existing Vet Debt: We currently owe $20,000 across three local vets who have kindly supported us during emergencies.

Our Strategy for 2026

To ensure we remain sustainable, we are focusing on two major goals this year:

1. Aggressive Re-homing: We are pushing our adoption and fostering programs harder than ever. Getting our numbers down at the farm is the only way to relieve the pressure on our staff and our budget.

2. Corporate Outreach: We are persistently reaching out to local shops and pet stores to help sponsor our food costs. While we are still waiting for that first "yes," we aren't giving up as we hope someone picks up and replies to us.

As a last resort, we are considering a cap on new rescues to match our fundraising levels until our vet debt is managed. This is a decision we hope we never have to make, but it is one we must consider to ensure the 200 dogs already in our care never go hungry.

Looking Ahead

Next week, we are organizing a Mass Dipping Day to protect over 200 dogs in the community. To make this happen, we are working to secure 25L of "Dazzle Dip" (which costs $115 per 5Litre ) and we are closely monitoring Cocoa’s vet bills, which we expect to reach $300–$350 (R5,000–R6,000).

Your past support has brought us this far, and we are so proud of what we have achieved together. We will continue to fight for the "Cocoas" of our community, ensuring that every dog has a chance at a life free from pain.

With gratitude and hope,

Dear Supporters,

We wanted to share a little update with our amazing supporters and donors! 

Summer has finally arrived in Cape Town and our rescued dogs are loving every moment in the sun. After a tricky few weeks when our water pump broke, we are thrilled to report that with your help we managed to get a new pump up and running within just a few days. Water is flowing again, bowls are full, kennels are clean, and best of all, the pups are having the time of their lives cooling off in the paddling pool. Above is a photo of one very happy dog enjoying a splash!

Your support truly gave us hope at a moment when we needed it most. Because of you, we were able to restore water and keep our dogs safe and happy. You helped fill bowls, wag tails, and bring joy back to their days for November. We still have lots of bills at the vet's but we survived a time when we thought it was over and that is because of you! 

Summer is always a busy time for our program with higher temperatures and extra care needed for the dogs, and thanks to your generosity we are ready to keep them comfortable, healthy, and loved. Last weekend we was called to a home where a family packed up and left the family home and left their dog tied up in the yard, he came back to our haven and we're called him peanut, he is healthy and we hope to find him his safe and foever home soon, he has now brought us up to 112 animals in our care so our re-homing team are going to have their work cut out! We do slow down adoptions over the festive season as a dog is for just foir christmas. 

We couldn’t do this without you. Every donation, every share, and every word of encouragement helps us keep tails wagging and paws happy. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this journey and for giving these dogs a safe, happy place to call home. I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy upcoming thanksgiving and a little friendly reminder that on Giving Tuesday donations are matched so its a great opportunity for us to get those bowls full again and maybe even pay of some of those amazing vets ;) 

Thanks from us all and lots of tail wags,

Richelle