Clutching his small puppy after being stabbed, Bradley, a Johannesburg man, says his first instinct was not his own survival, but her safety.

The incident unfolded on March 4 near Mall of the South, when Bradley was confronted while trying to buy a cigarette.

He explained that he had purchased the last cigarette from a street vendor when another man approached, demanding it.

When he refused and suggested the man buy his own across the road, the situation escalated into threats and violence.

“He took the first shot at my face,” Bradley said.

Realising he was outnumbered, he tried to defend himself before attempting to flee.

However, while crossing the road, the attacker came from behind and attempted to stab his puppy.

“I turned to protect her against any harm, but he managed to stab me in my left upper arm,” he said.
The wound was severe, narrowly missing a major artery.

Despite his injury, Bradley’s focus remained on his dog.

Bleeding heavily, he walked home and asked a passerby to hold the puppy so he could try to stop the bleeding.

Fearing the worst, he phoned his mother to say goodbye before losing consciousness multiple times. Emergency services arrived shortly after.

Members of Brackendowns CPF found him receiving medical attention from paramedics.

“He needed to be taken to hospital,” said Kim Rousseau of Brackendowns CPF.

Even in that moment, he refused to let go of his puppy, later named Sniper, fearing she would be taken away from him.

Kelly Rae, practice manager at Brackenhurst Veterinary Hospital, said the puppy was brought in shortly after.

“He was holding her after he was stabbed because he was worried she would be taken away from him. When she arrived, she needed proper cleaning and care,” Rae said.

Despite the traumatic ordeal, the puppy was in good health.

“She was full of life, a happy dog with lots of energy. You could definitely tell she is being well looked after and knows love,” she said.

The CPF arranged for the puppy to be cared for while her owner was in hospital.

The veterinary team stepped in, bathing her, vaccinating and deworming her, and providing food to support her for the month.

What stood out most was Bradley’s unwavering concern.

“While she was with us, he phoned about three times a day from the hospital just to check on her. You could feel the love he has for his puppy,” Rae said.

The puppy’s story began long before the incident.

Bradley explained that he first found her in an informal settlement across from Mall of the South, where he heard puppies crying.

He approached the owner, who agreed to sell one of the puppies.

After spending a full day collecting money at the traffic lights, mostly in coins, he paid a deposit and returned days later to settle the balance.

“Sniper was the one who stole my heart,” he said.

At the heart of the response is the Grace Fund, a non-profit initiative run by the veterinary team for over a decade.

The fund assists animals in need, including strays requiring treatment and pets in under-resourced communities needing sterilisation and care.

“This is exactly why the fund exists. To step in when animals need help, and their owners don’t have the means,” Rae said.

For Rousseau, the incident mirrors a deeper reality.

“Even though he himself was in need of care, he first made sure that the puppy was safe before seeing to himself. Sometimes these pets are the only form of sincere companionship some people have,” she said.

Organisations such as the Animal Protection Network and the SPCA, alongside community groups and private vets, continue to support animals and their owners in difficult circumstances.

When the pair were finally reunited, the puppy was visibly excited, and Bradley was deeply grateful.

He expressed his gratitude to everyone who stepped in to help during the ordeal, saying he owes his life and his puppy’s safety to the fast response and care he received.

Both Rousseau and Rae hope the story encourages compassion and understanding.

“We can support and care for each other,” Rousseau said.

Rae added: “The bond is unbreakable. A pet’s love is unconditional. We must not judge. Even if someone has very little, it doesn’t mean their pet isn’t loved and cared for.”