Written by Brakpan SPCA Committee Member Sanette Bosman
Photography by Tamaryn Lombard – Manager: Brakpan SPCA
There’s a dog on the rugby field that looks very old and sick – this was the message we received from Sonneveld Akademie in Brakpan on Wednesday, the 17th of November 2021. We went out and found a very elderly female Yorkshire Terrier.
Lost and found
We scanned the bewildered little dog and – lo and behold! – she was microchipped. We phoned the number provided and told the gentleman that we’d found their doggie. But, to our dismay, he had no idea what we were talking about – they didn’t have a missing dog and they live in Rustenburg (some 200km away).
That is, until we said her name: Roxy…
As it turns out, Roxy had gone missing nearly 10 years ago when she was only two years old, fortunately, sterilised and microchipped. The family had lived in Brakpan at the time that she’d disappeared. Their daughter, who loved and missed Roxy just as much – and still lives in Brakpan – fetched the old dog and rushed her to the vet. She had a two-week-old bite wound that was infected and septic; just one day later and she likely would’ve been dead. Roxy had been saved in the nick of time.
Where was Roxy?
In the interim, we found her current owners; they explained that they’d gotten her from friends a few years ago after their daughter’s pet had passed away. On phoning the friends, we discovered that they’d also had her for a few years after their mom had picked her up in the street. However, we couldn’t establish if there was a period in between that someone else might have kept her prior to that.
Poor Roxy has changed families multiple times over the years, which is very traumatic for an animal – new people, new routine, new environment every time. Yet, all this time, she just needed to be scanned for her microchip and she would’ve been back with her family that missed her deeply.
Fortunately, she’s now doing very well, and as soon as she’s fully recovered, “mommy” will be getting her teeth cleaned and cataracts removed, so she’ll feel like a spring chicken again.
We’re thrilled that she’s finally home after all these years and living the life she was meant to.
Important messages
An important message to get out there: we urge people to please not just keep or rehome stray animals! The NSPCA scans every animal that comes into our care and gives owners enough time to claim their missing family member; by law, we’re also the municipal pound, which means stray animals are supposed to come to us. Moreover, according to South African animal by-laws, the finder of a stray animal must report the animal as found. If you don’t have an animal welfare nearby, take the animal to the nearest veterinary clinic so that they can scan it for you. Not only is that animal’s family probably desperately looking for their pet, but it’ll be missing its people too.
Secondly, please microchip your pets. It costs very little and takes just a few minutes but can make all the difference; even if it takes 10 years, we will reunite you!
Angie Fourie, Roxy’s owner, shares…
About 12 years ago, my father got three Yorkies for my stepmom – Angelina, Roxy and Tonto. She loved them dearly and called them her children, which is why she sterilised and microchipped them. They also had collars with ID tags with my father’s contact number. One day, when they got home, they discovered that all three dogs were missing; we assumed they’d been stolen, as there was no way they could get out. They were only about two years old at the time.
We were frantic and looked everywhere, put up flyers in all areas, even the neighbouring town, posted reward posters, and visited the SPCA regularly. They also updated us every time a Yorkie came in so we could come and look, even if they were scanned as well.
Quite a while later, my dad received a call about a Yorkie that was deceased after being struck by a vehicle. It turned out to be Angelina, and we were heartbroken. There was no sign of Roxy or Tonto. We kept hoping and searching for months, which turned into years, and I often wondered where they were, if they were loved or even still alive. My stepmom was diagnosed with dementia, which turned into Alzheimer’s Disease, and five years ago, my father relocated them to Rustenburg, closer to a care facility.
Then, on Wednesday, the 17th of November, my dad phoned me, very emotional, to tell me he’d received a call from the Brakpan SPCA and Roxy was with them.
My heart nearly stopped. I couldn’t believe it – after 10 years! So many questions raced through my mind: where had she been, who was she with, would she recognise me…
I phoned the Brakpan SPCA’s emergency number as it was already after hours, and Mariska answered. She informed me that Roxy wasn’t in a good state. I rushed through – it was cold, raining, and dark due to load shedding, but I just wanted to get to her. On the way, I had so many emotions, from anger to happiness, but mostly anxiety as to what I’d find.
I recognised Roxy immediately, much older, but I never forgot those short little legs. She was in pain and not feeling well, but she managed a tail wag. I immediately knew she recognised me after all these years. My heart broke for her, and I couldn’t stop crying. I got home and phoned the vet, then rushed off. She had a bite wound that had turned into an abscess and was nearly septic, her infection count was high, she had a fever, eye infection, all her teeth were rotten, and she was dehydrated. The vet started treatment immediately.
I couldn’t stop thinking: what dog had bitten her, why didn’t anyone notice, why did she look so neglected... I cried most of the night. Eventually, my sadness turned into gratitude and happiness: glad she’s back where she belongs and we could give her love, medical attention and everything she needed to make her feel better and adored.
Roxy was sponsored to have a dental, and, unfortunately, all but one of her teeth had to be extracted. She spent a few days recovering and is now feeling and looking better. She has such a fighting spirit and her personality is finally showing; she’s more energetic and lively.
We love Roxy beyond any words. She loves to cuddle and is the friendliest, sweetest, most amazing little dog.
I’m so grateful to the Brakpan SPCA and want to tell everyone to please microchip your pets, keep them safe so no one can get to them, and if you pick up an animal, don’t just keep it – there are loving owners looking and searching for their beloved pets. We missed 10 years of Roxy’s life and nothing can undo it, but we’ll be spoiling her like the princess she was meant to be and are currently saving to have her cataracts removed.
