Written by Christine Leonard, Kennel & Adoptions Manager: Animal Welfare Society of South Africa
Professional photography by Fourpawz Photography
Thando, together with her Mom, Mpilo, and brother, Baby, were admitted in February 2017 after being rescued from an open sand patch in nearby Delft. They were homeless, grossly neglected, and emaciated.
I’ll never forget the sight I saw that day. Mom and her babies had never known a soft bed, shelter and regular food. They’d given up on life, but when we held them in our arms and looked into those eyes, we knew that we could and would give them the love that they’d never known and deserved. We spent hours working with them daily.
All three dogs were riddled with mange, to the extent of being almost hairless, and were also suffering from a host of other life-draining parasites. Thando weighed a mere 12.65kgs when she was admitted. Today, she weighs a healthy 23.3kgs and sports a shiny, sable-coloured coat.
Within a few days, we could begin to see the emotional changes happening. They started wagging their tails, even though their bodies were still so sore and infected. They blossomed into beautiful, loving fur-babies who all found their forever homes.
Their extended stay with us was a “home away from home” experience – they were given daily treatments of coconut oil massages and medication, and we had to teach them how to walk on a lead. I remember their first encounter with grass; they rolled all over the grass and dragged their stomachs on it. They had huge smiles all over their faces.
They clearly thrived on all the love and attention they received from their AWS SA caregivers.
Allan Perrins, Head of Communications & Resource Development, AWS SA, adds…
Another heart-warming fact about this bedraggled trio of “canine tramps” is the inseparable bond that they shared. And I have no doubt that these instinctive bonds are what helped keep them safe and alive until we fortuitously stumbled upon them during one of our regular Outreach projects in Delft.
The strength of this bond became apparent when we took them on an exciting outing to the Killarney Moonlight Dog Walk. Mom and daughter behaved like seasoned travellers all the way to Killarney, where they were dressed in eye-catching designer AWS SA “Adopt Me” outfits that Usain Bolt would have considered utterly appropriate for the well-supported charity event.
Mayoral Committee member for Safety & Security and Cape Animal Welfare Forum Patron, Alderman JP Smith, stood in front of several hundred eager four-legged participants and their proud “hoomans” who noisily awaited the countdown… 3, 2, 1, GO!
It was at this eventful point of the walk that Mpilo and Scooby (then Thando) decided to “sit and stay”, gazing lovingly up into their volunteer handlers’ eyes as if to say, “Been there, done that, let’s go home!” How could we not capitulate to their impassioned stare and playful nudges that assured them a front-row spectator seat in the company of their newfound family?
Anyone looking carefully at this adorable pair would have noticed Mpilo smiling a huge gummy smile – as she’d lost many of her teeth whilst scavenging for scraps to eat.
On the day that Scooby was collected, we paid extra-special attention to Mpilo, whom we thought might pine for the “loss of her sibling”. But this brave soul yet again amazed all of us by showing unbelievable tenacity and motherly instincts. When Scooby was led out to join her new family, it was as though a huge weight had been lifted off Mpilo’s tired shoulders. It was as though she intuitively knew that someone as special as her beloved daughter would one day notice her special qualities and give her a deserved second chance.
For us to have been instrumental in her rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming was huge, and a moment that we’ll cherish forever.
We still have many dogs like Scooby in our care and can only hope that her remarkable story resonates with your readers, who, if they’re considering adoption, must choose the Animal Welfare Society of SA as their go-to shelter.
Thando was adopted on the 21st of December 2019 – two years and 10 months after their arrival – and we couldn’t have hoped for a better return on our substantial investment in the transformation of this priceless trio.
Thando, renamed “Scooby”, had been given the ultimate gift last Christmas – the gift of life, love and a second chance with a family that truly cares.
I couldn’t have scripted a more heart-warming, fairy-tale ending. Scooby’s home is a proverbial Noah’s Ark!
Robyn Christenson, Scooby’s owner, shares…
We’ve previously adopted from AWS and have a number of other adopted/rescued fur babies in our household. I follow the AWS page on Facebook and am always happy to see the adoptions when they’re posted there (also quite saddened by the new cases, of course).
I was in Thailand in December 2019 with my daughter, and the picture of pre- and post AWS, Thando, popped up on my feed. I couldn’t believe the before picture – it shocked and stunned me. I had Jacques le Roux on WhatsApp and immediately contacted him and asked if she was still available. Besides the shock of how she looked, I was so sad that she’d been sitting there for nearly three years. I sent the picture to my husband, Paul, and he was in agreement – she needed a home. I told Jacques that we’d come and meet her when I returned.
Paul and I went to meet her on the 21st of December. She was excited and friendly, but I couldn’t leave her there a minute longer, and we took her home the same day. We have a big pack of all ages and a few different shapes. She was very unsure of herself in the beginning and was trying her best to be dominant. It took her at least three weeks to find her feet and her place in the pack. When she got home, after our introductory pack walk, she walked around a bit to investigate her surroundings and then went to lie by our big entrance gate.
We have old pool fencing around the gate to stop the dogs from running out if the big gate is opened. She kept going to lie behind the fencing. I kept letting her out. We even blocked it with our wheelie bin. I don’t know if I’m right, but she went behind that gate (in my mind) because all she knew was being behind bars; it’s where she felt safe. I’m happy to say that she hasn’t done that again since that first day.
She’s taken a long time to relax, and increasingly we’ve been shown more sides of her personality. She didn’t seem to know what a ball was at all, but I’m sure she would have been offered one by the volunteers at AWS – we have one rescue that is ball-obsessed, so she’s learnt a lot from Phoebe. She now knows to take it in her mouth, and she does chase it if you throw it, but we’re still working on her bringing it back. She’s very friendly and excited when we come home or if we have visitors. We’re still trying to get her to stop jumping up, but I know that that’s just her bubbly personality – she can’t help herself.
We’re still learning about her and she seems happy in her home. We’re grateful to have such a special soul as part of our family.
