Written by Gwendolene Erasmus-Falgate
Professional photography by Yvonne Jansen from BlissfulTails
In July, Kim Street had gone with her sister to collect the keys to her new home in Pretoria. What should have been a joyful day turned into a rescue mission when they discovered a small, terrified dog that had been left behind by the previous tenant.
The frightened pup had no food or water and was hiding under a Wendy house (shed), too scared to come out. Kim quickly reached out for help, and soon Gwen and Sue were on the road from Johannesburg to Pretoria, determined to give this little one a chance.
When they arrived, the dog was still trembling under the Wendy house, where she’d clearly been living. Using a makeshift catch pole, they patiently spent nearly an hour coaxing her out.
Finally, they were able to slip a leash around her neck and gently bring her to safety. She was dehydrated, in shock, and understandably heartbroken – but she was finally safe.
Gwen and Sue took her home, gave her fresh water and a warm place to rest, and began sharing her story in community groups to find her a loving home. The response was incredible. Ally Agnew from Reprieve Animal Welfare NPC quickly stepped in to help and asked for photos and suggested we check her temperament with cats and other dogs. We did a temperament test – she passed with flying colours, showing just how gentle and sweet she really was.
Agriwise Group kindly donated deworming, tick-and-flea treatment, and shampoo to get her feeling her best.
By Sunday night, Ally had already found a potential adopter!
On Monday, this beautiful baby was sterilised, vaccinated, and ready to meet her forever family. We were able to raise funds through the generosity of people.
Her new family named her Lexi – a name as beautiful as her spirit.
At first, Lexi was hesitant to go inside the house, but with patience and love, she soon discovered her safe place. Today, she has her own cosy bed, plenty of furry playmates, and a home full of children to give her endless cuddles. She’s even been on her first beach adventure!
From a scared little soul under a Wendy house to a cherished member of a loving family, Lexi’s journey is a reminder of why we care about animals and the generosity of people.
Dries Mouton, Lexi's new owner, shares...
We were looking to expand our family with a female furry friend, preferably a German Shepherd, to join our boys when we moved to a smallholding earlier this year.
After searching all over for a few months, visiting numerous shelters and several unsuccessful attempts to adopt our new fur baby, we saw the advertisement for Lexi on Facebook. Hearing Lexi’s sad story made us even more determined to offer her the loving forever home that she deserves.
Quite excited at the prospect that we might have found the newest addition to our family, we contacted Ally from Reprieve Animal Welfare NPC and started the whole adoption process.
The adoption process was efficient and fast, and by Monday afternoon we were able to welcome Lexi home.
At first, she was hesitant to enter the house and is still a bit careful with strangers (especially adult men), but with a lot of love and attention, we’ve gained her trust.
She’s adjusted well, adores the children, and has become close friends with her furry brothers. Daily walks to the bottom gate of the smallholding and belly rubs are amongst her favourite activities.
Lexi is a very energetic dog who runs all over the place and even enjoys the occasional dip in the swimming pool.
Although she’s a cross breed and not the German Shepherd we were initially looking for, Lexi made us realise that she’s the dog we never knew we needed.
