Written by Alicia Thomas, Committee Member – SPCA Louis Trichardt
Professional photography by EarthChild Photography
If truth be told, I’ve been putting off writing this incredibly special story because it was such a traumatic experience for me and for so many other people too, not to mention darling Maud.
Yet it’s also been one of the most touching adoption stories I’ve experienced thus far and had the privilege of telling, as this story truly has a happy ending!
The right place
Sometimes an awful lot of things have to go terribly wrong for one to end up in exactly the right place. Well, I believe this to be true for our dearest, darling Maud!
Maud’s journey to her happiest ever after started the day she joined our SPCA family as a stray early in June. She was shy and timid, yet, after spending just a few minutes with her, I knew I would have her heart and total trust in no time! And so it was, too...
Maud, like so many before her and, I guess, like so many still to come, crept into my heart with all four paws. It wasn’t long before her photos and profile on our Facebook page grabbed the attention of many prospective adoptees.
Home by nightfall
Within the next week home inspections were approved and our Maudie was Randburg-bound to her new home and human mom. Incredibly, we were able to arrange transport for our dearest Maud with the most amazing animal angels – a couple well known to our SPCA and very dear to our hearts too.
They’d adopted from our SPCA quite a few times before, and when they heard about Maud needing to get to Randburg (some 430km away), they kindly offered to transport our precious cargo. We were over the moon knowing Maud would be home by nightfall.
In the blink of an eye
But then, as it so often does, things changed within the blink of an eye. It was just after 5PM when I received a frantic call from the couple with the chilling news: Maud was missing!
They’d decided to stop at the Caltex Petroport about 30km south of Polokwane for a quick break and to let Maud relieve herself. But, not being used to travelling, Maud was almost paralysed with anxiety. They tried their very best to console her with their soft touch and kind words.
However, they were strangers to Maud and she must have seen the opportunity and, as soon as her paws touched the grass, she bolted, harness and lead still intact.
The chase was on and Maud had no intention of stopping; she dashed off and they sprinted after her into the thick bush alongside the busy N1 highway, making sure she didn’t change direction towards the rushing traffic. They searched for an hour, calling and beckoning to her, but to no avail.
Wire-haired Maud was exactly the same colour as the long, dry grass and, with the sun about to set, it was a lost cause. She didn’t know them and was certainly not going to make herself seen.
Let’s go!
As soon as I received the call I contacted our Inspector, Lawrence Khodobo, and told him that I just had to go and find her! Maud and I had bonded; she knew me best and would only come if I called. She wouldn’t allow a stranger close to her while she was in this frantic state.
Lawrence didn’t hesitate for a second and said that he was ready to leave and would accompany me.
By 18:00 we were on our way to Polokwane, armed with torches, blankets and treats!
During the 130km trip, the networking began.
What an amazing SPCA team we have: everyone was making calls, trying to get more information about the property where Maud was hiding, and trying to find anyone willing to come and help search for her. Limpopo K-9 Academy in Polokwane was the first to answer our desperate plea for help; Linda and Jenny were on their way with Teddy, their tracker dog, along with other members of their club.
Sniffer dog
All this time, the amazing animal angels who’d agreed to transport Maud were still on the scene, frantically searching for her in the dark. You guys truly are salt of the earth humans, and these two small words – ‘THANK YOU’ – will never suffice!
Teddy, the Limpopo K-9 Academy tracker dog, sniffed Maud’s blanket to pick up her scent, and then he was off into the dark bush like an arrow from a bow. The rest of us spread out, searching high and low, calling for Maud.
At about 23h00 we called it a day. The search area we’d covered that night was vast and we knew she could have run even further, so we decided to return the following day in daylight to continue our search. I left my shirt in the bush with some treats, hoping she would get my scent and decide to stay.
Back to the bush
Early the next morning we returned to the scene and the search was continued. I was joined by my amazing husband and my colleague Lesley Gaigher. Our entire SPCA team were still busy networking and had been able to get hold of the local Farm Watch Group. Everyone in the area was on the lookout for our Maud.
We met up with Linda and Teddy again and Alta, a volunteer from Limpopo K9 Academy.
After handing out flyers with pictures of Maud offering a R2000 reward for her safe return, at the Petroport, we headed back to the bush to continue our search.
Catching a glimpse
We’d spent roughly two hours wading through tall, dry grass and rough bushland when, almost out of the corner of my eye, I finally caught my first glimpse of Maud. My heart wanted to leap right out of my chest, but, alas, my excitement was short-lived.
Maud was still so traumatised that it seemed she didn’t recognise me and refused to come closer. However, there were moments of hesitation and this first sighting only fuelled our determination and hope.
Although we didn’t catch her then, it was the best feeling in the world knowing that she was still there – and she was OK! What made our search so tricky was the fact that Maud was perfectly camouflaged: her tan colour was exactly the same as the dry grass so, once she’d disappeared into the bush, it was literally impossible to keep your eye on her.
A dark speck
The search and game of tag continued for hours on end. We covered many kilometres without success, and I was already planning to leave food and a blanket for her second night alone and return the next day. I decided to do one more circle route of the area in which she’d been last spotted.
Two more hours of driving followed – without catching sight of her. Then, as if in a dream, in the distance I saw a dark speck in the shade of a tree.
I inched closer at a snail’s pace, gently calling out her name, hoping against hope that she would recognise my voice and calm down. I was armed with a bucket brimming with her favourite treats. My heart was in my throat.
Then I saw it: a slight wag of a tail. Relief washed over me – she knew it was me! But then the dark speck that was Maud moved. I held my breath; my worst fear was that she’d run and disappear into the bush once again, starting the wild goose chase all over again. So, when she got up to run, I immediately sat down and softly called her name.
The last five metres
Thus began a slow and very time-consuming game: Maud would lie down and stare directly at me and I’d get up and slowly walk a few metres closer in her direction. Then, up she would jump, ready to run, and I’d plonk myself down again – and so would she.
And so it went for about 50 metres, slowly but surely making my way closer to Maud until I was five metres away from her. Just before she readied herself to flee into the grass again, I beckoned her with a treat, calling her name over and over again. She was so close, I could almost touch her.
Finally it happened: Maud crawled those last five metres straight into my arms and right onto my lap!
I’ll never be able to describe the feeling of elation, relief, thankfulness and raw emotion I felt in that moment – that moment I felt her licking my face and having her back safe and sound in my arms!
Not the only rescue
The rest of the search party was immediately notified, and then the long walk back to the vehicles began, with Maud cradled in my arms.
BUT this was not going to be the only rescue for the day; Lesley had found two more wanderers on her part of the search and there was no way we were leaving them behind.
SPCA Polokwane was contacted and they too were taken to the safety of the SPCA – and the Farm Watch was also notified.
Thank you to Selma and Polokwane SPCA for helping us to get them to safety too!
Travelling time
Maud joined us back at the SPCA and was just ecstatic to see her kennel friends again. Sadly, we received the news that Maud’s adoption wasn’t going ahead, but we completely understood that her human mom had also experienced the same trauma and stress that we had and didn’t question her decision at all.
I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and somehow my heart was at peace for our dearest Maud. I think we were all just too happy to have her home safe and sound!
Then it happened once again: fate stepped in and, without us even re-posting her on Facebook, we were contacted by another family, also in Randburg, wanting to adopt our darling Maud!
We obviously had some concerns with Maud travelling again, but they were so determined that they were willing to make the nearly 900km round trip to Louis Trichardt and back with their boy, Scout (adopted just over a year ago from HAWS in Hartbeespoort Dam). When we saw a picture of Scout, we just knew that this was exactly where Maud was supposed to be: they could be identical twins.
Future perfect
When the Poultney family arrived the following Saturday with their dear boy, Scout, all our concerns and apprehensions were put to rest. This was clearly an adoption story written in the stars!
Scout and Maud hit it off right away and, with the tender love and patience of the family, she slotted in just perfectly. We couldn’t have dreamt of a happier ever after for our marvellous girl Maud.
Our Maudie is in exactly the right place now with her forever family – Randal, Lientjie, Katryn and Scout.
Thank you so much for adopting our precious girl and making her a part of your very special family. We know that she’ll fill your lives and hearts, as she did ours, and that she’ll gratefully love you every single day! Go well sweet, sweet girl – you’ll forever be in our hearts, Maudie.
We want to send out a MASSIVE thanks to Limpopo K9 Academy for your incredible dedication and passion in helping us to find Maud. Your team is beyond amazing and we’re forever grateful!
About Limpopo K-9 Academy
Limpopo K-9 Academy is a dog-training facility based in Limpopo that welcomes all dog breeds and believes that a happy dog is a healthy dog. They strive to educate people about dogs from all walks of life and offer services including Basic Home Obedience, Puppy Development, Advanced Obedience, Drive Development, Agility, Protection Training and Protection Sports Training. Training a dog creates that special bond and makes for a much happier dog. Find out more at www.limpopok9.co.za
THE LUCKY ONES
By Randal Poultney, Maud’s new owner
Our story begins when I saw a post about a dog that was the spitting image of Scout – we could barely believe our eyes. On the 10th of June 2018 my friend from Clarens, Eastern Free State, shared the Facebook post of a young tan wire-haired female puppy boarding at the SPCA in Louis Trichardt.
I immediately shared the photos of Maud with my partner, Lientjie van Graan, who’s based in Clarens (while I’m based in Johannesburg). Having adopted Scout a year ago, there was quite a discussion regarding the similarities between the two dogs. In fact, they could be twins! Strange, as they’re both pavement specials from towns far apart...
Friend needed!
Almost a month had passed, during which time I’d followed the post and seen that there was much interest in the adoption of little Maud. This was very encouraging as I knew these dogs have such great characters.
Then, one weekend, my son took Scout to Walkhaven Dog Park with a friend and his Husky. When they returned home late that afternoon and my son left, Scout whimpered at the door for hours, which led me to thinking that maybe he needed a companion.
I contacted Lientjie on the Monday and made the suggestion. Lientjie’s big heart for abandoned animals took over. Although I was to be Maud’s guardian, this was now well and truly out of my hands!
Plan in motion
Straight away, Lienks was on that SPCA photo of Maud – as it turned out, Maud, due to circumstances, was fortunately still up for adoption. By Wednesday plans had been made between Alicia of SPCA Louis Trichardt, her husband, Lesley, and Lientjie for a road trip to Louis Trichardt to introduce Scout to Maud. Alicia explained the trauma that they’d experienced with the previous adoption; sad as it would have been to experience a cancellation, it worked in our favour.
The pressure was on! The body corporate’s permission was required to allow a second pet on our property. A home inspection by the Randburg SPCA, who’d already received the adoption documents, was to follow. And all of this had to be approved before our departure on the Saturday.
To our relief, everything went smoothly. By Friday afternoon when Lienks arrived in Johannesburg from Clarens, everything was in order, from our overnight accommodation booking to meetings arranged with Alicia.
Road trip
On Saturday morning Lientjie, her daughter Katryn, Scout and I were on the road, deeply hoping that this match would work. A 900km round trip, accommodation, so many toll roads… friends were amazed that we would travel so far to adopt a dog and asked why we couldn’t have adopted one closer to home. No! This was Scout’s twin and Maud needed the lucky break!
Alicia had kindly arranged for the other animals to be in their pens whilst Maud had the run of the establishment to ensure a relaxed introduction. Within minutes of meeting Maud, we knew she was coming home with us. Scout and Maud were inseparable from the beginning, both being sociable animals. I’m sure Scout was convinced he was looking in a mirror!
The rest, as they say, is history. Maud is now happily living in Johannesburg and she and Scout are the best of mates. We still have a short way to go as she’s a little timid – as was Scout in the beginning – but that will soon pass.
Thanks to Alicia and Lesley for making this adoption possible. They both went out of their way to accommodate our visit.
Maud may be lucky as I have mentioned, but, in fact, we’re the lucky ones with this match!
