Raise your voice against animal cruelty in your community
Beaten, poisoned, left to suffer, these dogs’ stories expose the harsh reality of animal abuse in our communities.
From the streets of Diepsloot to the quiet suburbs of Robertsham, recent stories of cruelty toward animals have shaken communities and drawn attention to the devastating impact of abuse and neglect.
Dogs: Danger, Maxie, Red, and Khaos, have come to symbolise both the horrors animals endure, and the hope offered by those who fight to protect them.
In Diepsloot, a gentle township dog named Danger was left clinging to life after being beaten by a group of alleged gangsters. Known for his friendly and protective nature, Danger was brutally attacked, sustaining serious trauma to his face and eye.
“We found the dog severely battered and broken,” said Merinda Brits, founder of Fourways-based rescue organisation 4Paws. “He had cuts and bruises all over, and his eye was so badly injured that it had to be removed.”
Despite the permanent injury, Danger is adapting well. “He’s learning to live with just one eye.” His owner, overwhelmed with gratitude, has vowed to secure his yard to prevent another attack. 4Paws is now appealing for donations to cover Danger’s ongoing veterinary care.
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Just weeks earlier, Brits responded to another desperate call from Diepsloot, this time about Maxie, a golden retriever cross who had dragged herself home with a shattered leg. Her owner believed she’d been hit by a car. “We rushed her to the vet, but her bones were so badly broken that her leg couldn’t be saved. The surgery went well, but the recovery was long. She would sit by the door, whimpering, confused by the loss of her limb.”
Eventually, Maxie’s owner asked Brits to take her in, fearing she could be injured again. Now, living at 4Paws, Maxie is ready for a new home. “She’s very friendly, around two years old, and good with other dogs, just not with cats. We really hope someone will come forward to adopt her.”
Also read: Dog left with one eye after brutal beating
In Robertsham, tragedy struck Kerlene Treunicht, founder of Missing Pet Solutions in Fourways, when armed robbers broke into her home and poisoned her two beloved K9 partners, Red and Khaos, using sausages laced with illegal poison. “They weren’t just dogs; they were heroes. They helped bring lost pets home. Now they’re gone.”
Treunicht has launched a BackaBuddy campaign to raise funds to train new search dogs in their honour.
To donate, offer help, or adopt Maxie, contact Merinda Brits at 083 377 3219 or email: merinda@4ourpaws.org.za. Animal rescue is a fight against cruelty, and now more than ever, these heroes need your help.
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If you witness animal cruelty, neglect, or abandonment, report it immediately to the Johannesburg Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals via email: inspectors@jhbspca.co.za or call (011) 681 3600. A list of SPCA contact details in South Africa can be found here: https://www.nspca.co.za/spcas-in-sa.
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