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Dog scared off during Sunward Park robbery home after two months

A Farrar Park family recently brought a dog to the SPCA they had found outside their yard.

After more than two months of heartache, a beloved pet, which went missing in a home invasion, was finally reunited with her family.

The eight-year-old female Doberman-cross went missing during a robbery at her owners’ home in Sunward Park on October 23 last year.

John and Elsabe Appleton endured a long and emotional wait before receiving the phone call that changed everything.

The nightmare began when robbers rammed their car into the Appletons’ garage door at about 15:40 that day and gained access to the house.

“Penny was barking but was probably scared by the thieves that she just ran.”

John explained that he was home during the incident while Elsabe had just gone out.

“They were probably watching from further down and thought no one was home.”

John said one of the robbers struggled with him, and a second got involved. There were three robbers in the house, and John believes a fourth in the car, a white Kia with a sunroof (as identified by CCTV in the area).

Elsabe and John Appleton are grateful to be reunited with the beloved dog, Penny.

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“They got me on the floor and made sure I stayed down. It took them just a few minutes to get what they wanted.

It went very quiet, so I moved to the kitchen and discovered Penny was not in the house,” said John.

According to John, besides the usual items stolen in a home invasion, they also took one of Penny’s beds, which was round with green and white stripes.

“I thought they could possibly have taken her too.”

The family didn’t report the incident to the SAPS because they believed nothing would come of it. John made it clear that crime statistics for their area will, therefore, not reflect their robbery or other cases people haven’t reported.

The next weeks were hard for the Appletons.

“The 10-plus weeks Penny was missing were among the darkest days we’ve ever faced. My wife, in particular, was devastated. She spent many sleepless nights crying, and her health suffered as a result.”

Despite the heartbreak, the Appletons weren’t alone.

A dedicated group of friends and neighbours rallied around them, offering support and guidance. Thanks to their efforts and the tireless work of local organisations, the search for Penny gained momentum.

“We are so grateful to the people in our community. We joined a local lost-and-found group, and the help we received from everyone restored our faith in human nature.

“Special thanks go to Jane Smith-Howell, Alyson Willemse and Jax Mackenzie for their efforts with posters and spreading the word. Their support made such a difference. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the search.”

The Appletons are also grateful for the support from friends and family, including their niece, Connie, who lives in Bloemfontein.

“Connie might have been far away, but she helped by putting her phone number on the posters. She fielded countless calls from people with tips and information,” John said.

Breakthrough

On January 4, a glimmer of hope appeared for the family.

The Boksburg SPCA contacted the Appletons with a lead – a Farrar Park family had brought in a black dog they found outside their yard, and there was a strong possibility it was Penny.

“I rushed to the SPCA,” John said. “When I saw the dog, it was clear. Over 10 weeks had passed, but it was Penny. It shows miracles do happen.”

Despite being skinny, Penny had survived her ordeal.

John Appleton is over the moon to reunite with his beloved dog, Penny, who went missing during a home invasion.
John Appleton with Penny, his beloved dog that went missing in a home invasion.

“She now weighs only 12kg, down from her usual 17kg,” John said. “But she’s back with us, and we’ll spend the next few weeks rebuilding her strength.”

The family recently learnt that Ian Janse van Rensburg had taken Penny to the SPCA.

The eight-year-old Doberman-cross, Penny, with her owner, John Appleton.

John thanked the Good Samaritan, adding that Janse van Rensburg would receive the reward money offered when Penny went missing.

Janse van Rensburg said he heard a commotion at about 03:00 on January 4.

“I saw a dog in our yard. You could tell it hadn’t had a decent meal in a long time. I fed her and took her to the Boksburg SPCA that afternoon.

“I knew I couldn’t keep her and that taking her to the SPCA was the best option. I only found out at the SPCA that her owners were looking for her,” he said.

Microchip

According to SPCA manager Vicky Finnemore, the moral of the story is never to give up looking and posting for your missing pet.

“Visit your local SPCA regularly, fill out a lost pet form and leave your flyer on their ‘lost’ board. If you find a missing pet, take it to your local SPCA because that is the most likely place where it can be reunited with its owner.

“Visiting the SPCA in person is vital because their description of the animal might differ from the owner’s.
Finnemore reiterated that it’s essential to microchip your pet.

The manager added that social media has been incredibly helpful in reuniting pets with their owners.

“Community members should familiarise themselves with groups on social media, such as the Boksburg Lost and Found Dogs and Cats,” she said.

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