Amid the devastation of the Western Cape floods in May emerged a story of resilience and an unlikely bond between a dog, her puppies and the trainee SPCA inspector determined to save them. 

Nakita Sutter from the Cape of Good Hope SPCA says she was out in the storm in Manenberg with her team, trying to locate lost animals and, where possible, reunite them with their owners. 

“We were navigating the waterlogged streets when I spotted two similar-looking dogs wading through the floodwaters,” she says. 

The team followed the dogs onto a property and, at the bottom of a flight of outdoor stairs, discovered a makeshift kennel filled with puppies. Both dogs had given birth just a week apart and were nursing their tiny, vulnerable puppies. 

Emaciated 

“One of the dogs had the most heartbreaking and pleading eyes. Initially, I called her Mama, but given how we met, I changed her name to Stormie. She was severely emaciated. The other mother dog was also thin, although not as severely as her.” 

Stormie had three puppies. 

“Despite their living conditions, the puppies were in fair condition. They had good body weight and no major health concerns. What stood out to me was that despite Stormie’s own condition, her puppies were healthy. She had clearly given everything she could to them, even at the expense of herself.” 

Sutter explains the dogs were taken to the SPCA after the owners agreed to surrender them. 

“Animals coming into our care go through a full medical work-up with our veterinary team. Basic testing for viruses and parasites is done, and any immediate veterinary needs are attended to within the first 24 hours.” 

A special bond develops 

During Stormie’s stay at the SPCA, Sutter began taking her for daily walks, and the pair formed a special bond. 

“I continued visiting Stormie every day. Sometimes it was in the morning and sometimes late in the afternoon, depending on how our day went. As inspectors, we deal with many cases and emergencies and also have ongoing training, so our days are busy and generally spent on the road.” 

Sutter adds that through this routine, Stormie began to recognise her. 

“There was no longer the same cowering when I put the lead on. As time went on, she became less reluctant to leave her puppies for our walks.” 

Sutter says she thinks the attachment started the very first time she took Stormie into the hospital ward with her puppies.

Sutter adds that through this routine, Stormie began to recognise her. 

“There was no longer the same cowering when I put the lead on. As time went on, she became less reluctant to leave her puppies for our walks.” 

Sutter says she thinks the attachment started the very first time she took Stormie into the hospital ward with her puppies.

Stormie finds a forever home 

“For me, the final decision to adopt Stormie came when I found out that all of her puppies had found homes. That meant Stormie would be left on her own. It is harder to rehome an adult dog or a dog that is past the puppy stage, and I couldn’t have that on my heart.  

“If you ask my family, they’ll probably tell you that I decided Stormie was coming home the day I rescued her,” she says. 

Sutter has four dogs at home and adds Stormie has ‘really taken’ to her 12-year-old son. 

“I don’t know whether it was initially his size, but she naturally gravitated towards him, and he towards her. I found that particularly comforting. Men can sometimes have a bigger physical presence than women, which can be intimidating for some dogs, so seeing her gravitate towards him and feel comfortable with him, especially in a new home, was really lovely.”

Giving animals a voice 

Sutter, who also has a background in law enforcement and education, says her love for animals inspired her to become an inspector. 

“My training inspector once told me that even with all our training, at the end of the day you decide what kind of inspector you want to be. In a world where we see some very dark things when it comes to animal cruelty, sometimes you also get the opportunity to be a light.”  

She also believes her role as an inspector helps give animals a voice, a chance, a home, a meal, shelter and freedom of movement. 

“The most rewarding part is obviously the stories that end well – Stormie’s being one of them. The most difficult part is switching off. No day really ends without you thinking about the cases you went to and the animals you saw. 

“Animal cruelty is very much present in this country, and it’s heartbreaking. There are days when you feel like you’ve done enough, and then there are days when the weight of how much you’ve seen and done catches up with you. It can be a very difficult balance to find.”

Adopting rather than shopping 

Through Stormie’s story, she wants people to realise there is always hope.  

“I hope people trust in the SPCA and the work that we do, and most importantly, I hope they consider adopting rather than shopping. As wonderful and cute as puppies are, watching Stormie experience things for the first time as an adult dog has shown me that adopting an adult can be just as special.  

“In many ways, she is like a puppy. We still have to teach her to go outside, help her learn to sit and teach her the routines of our home. We get to watch her experience what it means to be part of a family.”  

Sutter adds that whether they are adult dogs or puppies, they all deserve that chance. 

“I would especially encourage people not to overlook the adults, because there are so many waiting for homes.” 

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