Fourways pet rescuer mourns canine team lost in house robbery

This past weekend, Kerlene Treunicht, founder of Missing Pets Solutions in Fourways, held an emotional memorial service to honour the lives of her beloved dogs, who were tragically poisoned during a robbery at her home.

According to Treunicht, her dogs were more than companions; they were trained partners who played a vital role in reuniting missing pets with their families.

“The memorial service was a deeply emotional yet beautiful tribute to the lives and spirits of my dogs,” she said. “We held it in a peaceful private dog park, surrounded by trees and calmness. I know that they would have enjoyed that park so much, running, sniffing and chasing a ball. I decorated the area with their favourite toys, framed photos, and candles. We also played a slideshow with many of their photos, and finally, we played their ‘last call’. It was intimate, sincere, and filled with love just like they were.”

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One of the most memorable moments of the service came when heartfelt letters written by Treunicht to each dog were read aloud. “It was my way of saying all the things I hadn’t yet been able to voice my gratitude, my love, and how deeply I miss them.

“Another special tradition was doing their last call. That was incredibly emotional. I was surrounded by close friends, fellow rescuers, family and clients whose pets they have helped reunite. Their presence reminded me that grief is softer when shared.”

She added that rescue work didn’t just change lives, it transformed bonds. “My dogs weren’t just pets; they were my partners, my healers, my compass in the chaos of rescue. There was a search where K9 Red [one of her dogs] tracked a missing dog right up to the door where someone was keeping him inside. It brought tears to my eyes. There are countless memories, and it’s all etched into my soul. They taught me how to lead with love and to never give up on any creature.”

Now, in their absence, it is the silence that weighs heaviest, with no tail thumps against the door or eager eyes waiting to go out.

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“But I’m coping by allowing myself to feel it all, every wave of sadness, every flicker of memory. In many ways, I still feel them walking beside me.”

Despite her grief, Treunicht is channelling her love and loss into a powerful new mission. “Their legacy deserves to live on not just in memory, but in action. That’s what inspired this campaign: to train more dogs to assist in rescue work, just as mine did so passionately.

“I want to take the love and purpose they embodied and pass it forward. Every dog trained becomes a new beacon of hope for families searching for lost pets. I hope to build a network of canine heroes dogs with the heart, intuition, and drive to bring others home.”

The link to the campaign is: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/missing-pet-solutions~2

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