Young trio’s kindness ensures Labradors make their way home
“While we were doing this, the dogs were wildly running up and down. Another lady very kindly offered to lend us leads to at least try and hold onto the dogs, as the boys and I were running around trying to corral them while waiting for the owners,” added Roode.
LYDENBURG – “Not all heroes wear capes” is a common phrase around Father’s Day, but for two Labradors on Tuesday, this saying came true.
Their heroes rode bicycles and were around 10 years old! Byron White, Gert Millard and Willem Millard, three friends, were riding their bikes near the bridge after school when they saw two Labradors running in the street.
They realised the dogs were not streetwise and followed them, hoping to find someone who knew them.
“I happened to see the dogs and pulled off the road to yell for them to go home. The dogs then ran into the
first open gate and I went to check if it was indeed their home, but the owner of the house said they were
not his dogs.
“The three boys followed the dogs and asked me if they were mine. I told them they weren’t, and they
proceeded to help me get them out of the garden.
“They said they had followed the dogs from the riverside and might know where they live. We then chased the dogs back to the street they had originally found them on,” revealed Madelaine Roode, a local resident and eyewitness.
“I drove into the first driveway to ask if the dogs belonged on the street. A lovely lady called Cindy then told me they were her neighbours’ dogs, but they had never been out alone before and she would call them to ask if they would open their gates.
She said after about an hour of wandering the streets, the dogs’ owner finally sent their helper to
come and fetch them.
Roode applauded the boys. “They stayed the whole time with me chasing the dogs and trying to keep
them together in the busy street without even knowing who they belonged to. This act has a lot to do
with the upbringing of each child.
The parents definitely play a vital role by showing compassion towards animals, which is then passed on to
their children.
”She said she got goosebumps as she saw the boys genuinely cared about the dogs. “There has been
an increase in the youth getting involved in the community when it comes to pet health and care. The
boys’ actions will definitely make a difference in the community and it serves as an eye-opener, because it
shows how a child under the age of 12 can make a difference,” she said.
Roode thanked the trio and all those who assisted to take the dogs back to their owners.
“May our Lord smile upon you and grant you favour. Your good hearts and selfless actions do not
go unnoticed. Your kindness and compassion to animals are a rare gift.
Thank you. May you never change and may your example be something others will follow. To the man whose
garden the dogs went into and who didn’t care where they went after that: may you learn from these
young boys.”
