Virginia SPCA Archives - Good Things Guy https://www.goodthingsguy.com/tag/virginia-spca/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:48:06 +0000 en-ZA hourly 1 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-gtg_favicon-32x32.png Virginia SPCA Archives - Good Things Guy https://www.goodthingsguy.com/tag/virginia-spca/ 32 32 Happiest Update About a Love Story That Had Us All Blubbering https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/sello-option-update/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/sello-option-update/#respond Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:00:33 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=182879

Sello, who carried his injured dog 15km to save her life, now has some stability, and Option is bouncing around happily on three legs!   Free State, South Africa (7...

The post Happiest Update About a Love Story That Had Us All Blubbering appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>

Sello, who carried his injured dog 15km to save her life, now has some stability, and Option is bouncing around happily on three legs!

 

Free State, South Africa (7 April 2026)Their story showed us all what love between a man and his best friend looks like. In October last year, Sello walked 15 kilometres, with Option wrapped up in his arms, to meet the team from Virginia SPCA on the road outside Odendaalsrus.

Option had been struck by a speeding car. With his last few rand spent on airtime, Sello made the call to save her. After being turned away by other shelters and organisations who had no capacity to help, the Virginia SPCA finally answered. They met him on the road, and took Option in.

The story blew up across South Africa. Support and donations poured in. Weeks later, Sello visited Option at the SPCA with tears in his eyes. That reunion moved thousands more. We were all crying snot en trane.

It’s almost six months since that moment happened. This week, the SPCA shared that Sello and his beloved Option paid them a visit, and they’re doing well. The picture (and video in the comments section linked here) are everything.

Photo Credit: Virginia SPCA, Free State, South Africa

Option has made a full recovery. She lost a leg in the accident, but this little three-legged doggie doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo that life is supposed to be harder. She’s doing just fine. Sello is doing well, too. A previous update shared that he is employed through to the end of May – stability makes all the difference for a man who gives everything he has to the ones he loves.

The Virginia SPCA playfully asked the public to guess who the two mystery guests in their post were. Hundreds of people, who never forgot their names or their story, flooded in with warmth and recognition.

“We could never forget Sello and little Option.”

“Two champions!”

“Brave Option with his hero Sello.”

“Sello and Option attached by special love chain”

“Even Hollywood could not dream up such an incredible story of love, resilience and compassion.”


Sources: Linked above.
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

 

The post Happiest Update About a Love Story That Had Us All Blubbering appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/sello-option-update/feed/ 0
Benji and Heinz: Two Brave Dogs Ready for a New Home https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/benji-and-heinz-new-home/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/benji-and-heinz-new-home/#respond Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=178436

Thanks to a concerned passerby and swift SPCA action, these two dogs now have a chance at a better life and are hoping to find a new home.   Virginia,...

The post Benji and Heinz: Two Brave Dogs Ready for a New Home appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>

Thanks to a concerned passerby and swift SPCA action, these two dogs now have a chance at a better life and are hoping to find a new home.

 

Virginia, South Africa (24 February 2026) – Benji and Heinz have endured a lot, but both stayed calm and responsive when the Virginia SPCA arrived. Now, they are safe and have a chance to start fresh.

When young children arrived at school one day, they saw an adult man violently punishing a dog, all in front of the learners. Just because dogs had “messed too much” in his yard.

Thankfully, a passerby acted immediately, alerting the SPCA. By the time the team arrived, the dogs’ reactions spoke volumes about their experiences. Benji, just a year old, tucked his tail and cowered. Heinz, three years old, stood bravely and firmly, holding it together.

Their courage in the face of fear is remarkable. And the focus shifts to the future. Despite being punished for simply being dogs, both Benji and Heinz are ready to trust and love again. Benji is gentle and submissive, needing patient hands to help him flourish. He isn’t cat-friendly, but with humans, he quickly forgives and bonds. Heinz, protective and steadfast, is wonderful with people but prefers a cat-free home.

The SPCA is now seeking loving adopters to give them the happy ending. Both are deserving of a life where being a dog is not a crime.

You can find out more about adopting these two via the Virginia SPCA here.


Sources: Virginia SPCA 
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post Benji and Heinz: Two Brave Dogs Ready for a New Home appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/benji-and-heinz-new-home/feed/ 0
Photos of Peter and Teddy in Last Moments Say Everything About Animal Welfare https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/peter-and-teddy-touching-last-moments/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/peter-and-teddy-touching-last-moments/#respond Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:00:33 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=174785

‘When a picture speaks a thousand words….’   Free State, South Africa (21 January 2026) – Monday came with a difficult goodbye for the animal welfare team at Virginia SPCA....

The post Photos of Peter and Teddy in Last Moments Say Everything About Animal Welfare appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>

‘When a picture speaks a thousand words….’

 

Free State, South Africa (21 January 2026) – Monday came with a difficult goodbye for the animal welfare team at Virginia SPCA. Teddy was with them for 15 years. He was their very first yard dog.

Just a year after the current team took office in 2010, Teddy joined the family. He was two at the time, and he spent the next fifteen years there, jumping on the laps of his animal welfare heroes. He followed them everywhere and watched them care for animals just like him – newcomer doggies who found great comfort in his presence, too.

“Teddy taught us patience. He taught us consideration. He showed us what true companionship really means,” Virginia SPCA shared. “Whenever a scared, confused dog arrived, Teddy was there. He would walk alongside the staff, gently helping new guests settle in, offering calm reassurance without needing a single word.”

This little shadow was a part of the team. He helped inspectors and carers understand how they could best serve animals who came through their doors.

“Whenever there was training to be done, Teddy was the willing participant—gracefully and generously offering himself so that we could learn and grow, and so that others could benefit.”

He was right there from the beginning, which made saying goodbye so difficult.

After 17 years, most of them spent with his SPCA family who loved him deeply, Teddy crossed the rainbow bridge.

“Now we must learn what life looks like without you, Teddy. We let you go knowing you lived a full, meaningful, and deeply loved life. From all of us at Team VSPCA, we salute you. Until we meet again.”

Field Assistant Peter Kamwaza has worked at the Virginia SPCA for years. He and Teddy were inseparable. The images below, published by the SPCA on Facebook, are of the two of them in their final moments together.

“We are publishing these images with permission of our Field Assistant Peter Kamwaza. Teddy and Peter moved as one. We are so sorry Peter – thank you for being a perfect friend to Teddy.”

When a picture speaks a thousand words.

These images show a side of animal welfare that we don’t see. The bonds that form and the friendships that last for life. The warmest welcomes and the most heartbreaking goodbyes.

South Africa’s animal welfare workers are heroes and we’ll always fly their flag.


Sources: Linked above. 
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes and hear their incredible stories:

Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post Photos of Peter and Teddy in Last Moments Say Everything About Animal Welfare appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/peter-and-teddy-touching-last-moments/feed/ 0
Watch: Tears of Joy as Sello Visits Option at SPCA https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/sells-visits-option-spca/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/sells-visits-option-spca/#respond Fri, 07 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=167912

The clip of Sello and his doggie Option reuniting again is the warmth we didn’t even know we needed today.   Free State, South Africa (06 November 2025) – A...

The post Watch: Tears of Joy as Sello Visits Option at SPCA appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>

The clip of Sello and his doggie Option reuniting again is the warmth we didn’t even know we needed today.

 

Free State, South Africa (06 November 2025) – A few weeks ago, Sello’s closest companion, Option, was hit by a speeding car. With no transport and only a few rand to his name, Sello bought airtime, called every shelter he could find, and when the SPCA said they could help, he walked 15 km carrying her in his arms.

The SPCA rallied for the pair, and through their compassionate community, raised donations to make a real difference for the inseparable two.

Option is receiving the care needed to heal properly — emergency vet care, X-rays, treatment for injuries, soft food, medication, and a safe place to stay for the next few weeks. Follow-up visits are covered, too. And when it’s time to return home, Option will be vaccinated, sterilised, microchipped, fed for the next 12 months, and kitted out with a brand-new harness, lead and tick-and-flea treatments for the year.

The care has extended even further. Sello was taken on a shopping trip and was gifted all the essentials he needed. The SPCA are transporting him back and forth to visit Option until they can finally return home together.

“When Sello visited Option at Virginia SPCA, tears filled his eyes as his faithful friend wagged her tail once again. The bond between them is something words can hardly describe — pure love, unbroken by hardship.
Sello will continue to visit regularly until Option is fully healed,” shares the SPCA.

The video of them seeing each other again is everything:


Sources: Linked above
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Watch: Tears of Joy as Sello Visits Option at SPCA appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/sells-visits-option-spca/feed/ 0
Sello Refuses to Lose His Dog, Spends Last Cents on a Lifesaving Call https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/sello-spends-last-money-to-save-dog/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/sello-spends-last-money-to-save-dog/#respond Tue, 28 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=166702

Sello’s love for his dog stretched to his very last cent, and then 15 kilometres further. He would do anything to see his companion wagging his tail again.   Free...

The post Sello Refuses to Lose His Dog, Spends Last Cents on a Lifesaving Call appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>

Sello’s love for his dog stretched to his very last cent, and then 15 kilometres further. He would do anything to see his companion wagging his tail again.

 

Free State, South Africa (28 October 2025) – Loving a pet is one of the greatest gifts we can experience in life.

They become family. Shadows that follow us around. Companions that lead with pure, unconditional love. When they leave us, grief lands a blow that only someone who has lost a loved one will know.

This week, Virginia SPCA in the Free State shared a rescue story that reminded us of this great love in action. It’s about a man named Sello, and his dog, Option.

The two are inseparable. Wherever Sello goes, his loyal companion stays faithfully at his side. Sadly, last week, while Sello was cleaning his yard, a speeding car hit Option.

Sello immediately reached out to every animal shelter he could find, but no one could help him. His heart broke. Seeing his dog in such pain was unimaginably difficult. But he refused to give up. With the little money he had left, he bought airtime to give their last hope a call, and they answered.

The Free State’s Virginia SPCA agreed to take Option in, as long as he was prepared to meet them.

He didn’t hesitate.

Sello walked 15 kilometres, with his injured dog wrapped up in his arms, to meet the team on the road outside Odendaalsrus,

“Carrying nothing but love and hope for his dog. This is what true devotion looks like,” the SPCA shared.

Option is now in the SPCA’s care, and they’re doing their best to provide the urgent treatment needed to save Option and send him back home to his best friend. But they can’t do it without help.

The SPCA has put out a call to help bring relief and healing to a dog who means the world to his human. If you would like to donate, find more details here. Or see the details below:

Donations can be made directly to the Virginia SPCA.

  • Reference: Sello’s Dog
  • Absa Bank
  • Account Name: Virginia SPCA
  • Cheque Account 4085 087 447
  • Branch Code 632 005

Even though Sello may live and get by with very little, he loves his dog like family, and would go through anything to see him healthy again. Help he receives along the way will not be taken for granted.


Sources: Linked above.
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Sello Refuses to Lose His Dog, Spends Last Cents on a Lifesaving Call appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/sello-spends-last-money-to-save-dog/feed/ 0
Love Transforms Neglected Cat’s Life “Oliver” For The Best! https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/love-transforms-neglected-cats-life-oliver-for-the-best/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/love-transforms-neglected-cats-life-oliver-for-the-best/#respond Thu, 13 Feb 2025 15:00:47 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=143814

Oliver, a cat with a now-lush golden coat living his best life, had a rough start to life, living in a vegetable box under neglected conditions.   Virginia, South Africa...

The post Love Transforms Neglected Cat’s Life “Oliver” For The Best! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>

Oliver, a cat with a now-lush golden coat living his best life, had a rough start to life, living in a vegetable box under neglected conditions.

 

Virginia, South Africa (13 February 2025) – After taking one look at his fluffy golden coat and striking eyes as he poses for the camera, you’d never say that healthy cat, Oliver, had led a completely different life. A life marked by neglect and confined to a vegetable box in unsuitable conditions.

After learning about his dreadful circumstances, the Virginia SPCA (VSPCA) team in the Free State wasted no time in rescuing him, removing him from the dire conditions and unfortunate fate he had endured.

Then, in a heartwarming twist of fate, Petrie Venter, while visiting the SPCA, met the special cat – a crucial moment that would change both their lives for the absolute best! Petrie’s days would, from then on, be filled with the warmth of a loyal feline companion, and Oliver would have finally found a loving home and a devoted pet parent.

According to the Virginia SPCA this special cat has been happily adopted by Petrie and is living the life of a king, filled with shelter, nutritious food and most importantly, love. Oliver could not have it better, and his life had taken the most precious transformation!

Not only does he look stunning with his well-groomed coat and sparkling green eyes, but his journey speaks to the power of love in changing a life for the better!

“Thank you, Petrie, for being the best in this beautiful boy’s life,” VSPCA said.


Sources: Virginia SPCA
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

 

The post Love Transforms Neglected Cat’s Life “Oliver” For The Best! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/love-transforms-neglected-cats-life-oliver-for-the-best/feed/ 0
Good Samaritan Surprises SPCA; Fills up Their Bakkies with Petrol!  https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/good-samaritan-surprises-spca-fills-up-their-bakkies-with-petrol/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/good-samaritan-surprises-spca-fills-up-their-bakkies-with-petrol/#respond Fri, 25 Oct 2024 10:00:43 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=134761

A Good Samaritan made the Virginia SPCA’s day after they filled up not one but two of the team’s bakkies with petrol!   Free State, South Africa (24 October 2024)...

The post Good Samaritan Surprises SPCA; Fills up Their Bakkies with Petrol!  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>

A Good Samaritan made the Virginia SPCA’s day after they filled up not one but two of the team’s bakkies with petrol!

 

Free State, South Africa (24 October 2024) —  For many South Africans, a trip to the petrol station is accompanied by a lot of stress. Fuel is one of the many, many aspects of life that has become increasingly expensive in our country for the average person, let alone for organisations like non-profits. Especially for animal welfare and rescue organisations for whom transport is a big part of the job, fuel is often as essential as it is stressful! But, good news came for one Free State-based SPCA and their bakkies, all thanks to a Good Samaritan who went above and beyond to knock one dose of stress off the SPCA’s list.

The anonymous Good Samaritan made sure that two of the Virginia SPCA’s bakkies would get full tanks of fuel in what was a huge weight off the team’s shoulders. 

But, this wasn’t simply someone putting their spare rands to wholesome use. 

As the Virginia SPCA explains, the Good Samaritan actually went through the effort of selling hotdogs to raise funds to make the double-dose of kindness possible!

“Good and magical people walk with us,” the SPCA shared. The story of such simple but oh-so important kindness has touched hundreds of South Africans already; reminding us that making a difference need not be as complicated as it can sometimes seem. 

Meanwhile, in other Good Samaritan news that had our team shedding all the tears this week, Good Things Guy Editor Tyler and her family, recently experienced an incredible act of kindness after an anonymous person at the doctor’s office paid Ouma’s medical bill! You can read all about it here.


Sources: Virginia SPCA 
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Good Samaritan Surprises SPCA; Fills up Their Bakkies with Petrol!  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/good-samaritan-surprises-spca-fills-up-their-bakkies-with-petrol/feed/ 0
High Schoolers’ Handmade Cards Bring Hope to This SPCA https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/high-schoolers-handmade-cards-bring-hope-to-this-spca/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/high-schoolers-handmade-cards-bring-hope-to-this-spca/#respond Mon, 29 Jan 2024 13:28:02 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=117733

High Schoolers in the Free State brought handmade cards and other goodies to their local SPCA; making the team’s day that much brighter!   Virginia, South Africa (29 January 2024)...

The post High Schoolers’ Handmade Cards Bring Hope to This SPCA appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>

High Schoolers in the Free State brought handmade cards and other goodies to their local SPCA; making the team’s day that much brighter!

 

Virginia, South Africa (29 January 2024) — Working in animal welfare might be one of the most rewarding fields, but it’s also one of the hardest. In between adoptions, successful rescues and heartwarming moments are many tough moments shrouded in stress where the light at the end of the tunnel seems more metaphorical than possible. But sometimes light sneaks in when it’s least expected. And sometimes light looks like the youth, handmade cards and smiles from those you inspire.

For the Virginia SPCA team, a visit from Grade 10, 11 and 12 learners from St. Andrews came at just the right time. Not only did the students and their teachers bring tins of food for the animals as well as big bags of meals, but something so thoughtful it made everything else glow even more.

The learners brought handmade cards for the Virginia SPCA, thanking the staff for their very hard work. One student thanked them, in particular, for spending New Year’s rescuing dogs (in reference to all the dogs that, in a state after New Year’s Eve fireworks exploded, ran away). Others thanked them for the love and care they put in no matter the day. One even called the SPCA the king of the world!

“On dark days, we remind ourselves that there is hope! Hope through our youth!” the Virginia SPCA shared of the thoughtful visit. 

Donations go a long way, but when tied with the morale boost that these wishes bring, they will go even further.


Sources: Virginia SPCA 
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

 

The post High Schoolers’ Handmade Cards Bring Hope to This SPCA appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/people/high-schoolers-handmade-cards-bring-hope-to-this-spca/feed/ 0
Wildlife Vet Shares Then and Now Snap of Rescued Caracal Kitten https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/caracal-kitten-then-now/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/caracal-kitten-then-now/#respond Mon, 21 Aug 2023 14:28:04 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=108958

This feisty young Caracal is no longer the tiny kitten she was when rescued; she is now ready to be released back into the wild to start her life.  ...

The post Wildlife Vet Shares Then and Now Snap of Rescued Caracal Kitten appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>

This feisty young Caracal is no longer the tiny kitten she was when rescued; she is now ready to be released back into the wild to start her life.

 

Johannesburg, South Africa (21 August 2023) – A Caracal kitten rescued from a wildcat breeding facility along with 70 other animals, has grown big and strong. The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital shared her progress in a cute “then and now” style update.

The caracal kitten was rescued in March of 2023 thanks to collaboration from the Bloemfontein SPCA, Virginia SPCA and the Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA). The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital team was called onto site to help assess and treat the multiple wild animals being bred for the pet trade.

The rescue operation was vital as many of the animals were in incredibly compromised positions. They were sedated to reduce stress and many were found to be starving, riddled with disease, parasite infestation and even self-mutilation as a result of their extreme distress.

The caracal kitten is now ready to be released and as you can see from her picture, she is big and strong! The vet shared that she has been with them only a fraction longer than she would have stayed with her mom. As the work on narrowing down a safe space to release her, she builds up her strength, agility and prowess to face the wild. While she has been hand-raised, her carers kept every interaction to a minimum.

“Contrary to what many believe, a wild animal that has been hand raised CAN be released successfully if the correct protocol is followed. She may be familiar with her primary carer’s presence, however, she is by no means friendly. As she enters a larger area and has even less human interaction, she will become even less familiar with people, just as it should be.”

It is thanks to continued support from donors that this caracal and the many rescued animals from this case, have been able to finally thrive.

The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital treats indigenous animals free of charge, relying solely on donations and support from the community.

If you would like to support the work they do, you can donate a monetary sum using the details below.

BANK DETAILS:

Johannesburg Wildlife NPC
FNB Cheque account
Account No: 62658400264
Branch code: 255355
Swift code: FIRNZAJJ

SNAPSCAN: https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/PXMP5766

PAYPAL: ​paypal.me/joburgwildlifevet


Sources: JWVH
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Wildlife Vet Shares Then and Now Snap of Rescued Caracal Kitten appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/caracal-kitten-then-now/feed/ 0
Four Rescued Serval Kittens Take Next Steps to Freedom https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/serval-kittens-freedom/ https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/serval-kittens-freedom/#respond Mon, 26 Jun 2023 09:00:57 +0000 https://www.goodthingsguy.com/?p=105576

Four rescued serval kittens have been placed into a larger enclosure on the private reserve where they will slowly be released back into the wild.   Johannesburg, South Africa (26...

The post Four Rescued Serval Kittens Take Next Steps to Freedom appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>

Four rescued serval kittens have been placed into a larger enclosure on the private reserve where they will slowly be released back into the wild.

 

Johannesburg, South Africa (26 June 2023) – Four rescued serval kittens are growing quickly and getting ready to make the next big step to freedom.

Earlier this year a joint operation between the Bloemfontein SPCA, Virginia SPCA and the Department of Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA), the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital team saw the rescue of over 70 wild animals being bred for the illegal pet trade.

Several Servals were rescued, some still pregnant at the time, some far too young to have been removed from mom. This is the story of three little Servals (Leptailurus serval) that were part of the rescue.

The Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital shared its story in early May, needing a little support in feeding the hungry little felines. The three rescued kittens also had very compromised health. The team worked tirelessly to save them and get them back to health. Then a few weeks later, they added a fourth rescued kitten to the litter.

Now, all four kittens are getting ready to be released back into the wild. The wildlife vet shared the happy news that they have been moved into a larger enclosure and are being given daily enrichment activities aimed at triggering their natural instincts.

The enclosure is already on the private reserve where they will live, once ready, they will leave the enclosure and settle into a wild life as was always meant to be.

“The four serval (three from a confiscation and one found in suburban area) are safely in their new home!

Raising indigenous wildlife, for future release, is no easy feat, and is a time-consuming process – but SO worth it! Wild animals instinctively know what to eat, but when young we give them the food items that their mother would have given them. This triggers their instincts and natural behaviour and readies them for a wild life. It is important to note only dead prey items are fed and that wild animals do not need to “learn” to catch live prey. Take your average domestic cat for instance, nobody teaches them anything and they are prolific hunters.

They are now in a large enclosure that will have their enrichment changed regularly during their stay. They are still being support fed while they acclimatise to their new environment. Once they are a few months older, the enclosure will be opened and they will be free to roam, as well as come back to their enclosure for food and familiarity. Soon they won’t come back anymore and will be living fully within the private reserve that will be their forever home. This reserve offers the perfect serval habitat and we hope that they will live long successful lives here as independent serval, just as nature intended.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of their journeys thus far, this victory is yours!”

The wildlife vet treats all indigenous animals free of charge. You can support the work they do by checking out the website here.


Sources: JWVH
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google
Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Four Rescued Serval Kittens Take Next Steps to Freedom appeared first on Good Things Guy.

]]>
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environment/serval-kittens-freedom/feed/ 0