Thando, a cross Africanis dog rescued by the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa from an open sand patch in Delft, spent Christmas with her new adoptive family after almost three years at the shelter.
Thando, 6, who was rescued together with mom Mpilo and sibling Baby, weighed a mere 12kg and was not only suffering from starvation and severe mange, but riddled with external and internal parasites.
Allan Perrins, the society's resource development and communications officer, said in the three years Thando had been at the shelter they had invested R17 000 to R20 000 in food alone and around R50 000 in her intensive treatment.
Robyn Christenson, who has adopted Thando, has renamed her Scooby. “Robyn owns quite a few dogs and this is the second dog she's adopted from us,” said Perrins.
Christenson said: “I saw Thando’s before and after pictures recently on the Animal Welfare Facebook page. It shocked me, I could see she’d been through so much, and then to see she’d been waiting in the shelter for nearly three years my heart broke for her and we wanted to try to give her a better, new lease on life.
Lawrance Nkotha, adoptions centre manager, said: “I’m happy Thando has finally found a loving home. I also cried tears of joy.”
Christenson said everything for Scooby was a new experience, from being in a house to being able to walk freely about the property. “She has a lovely nature and is already quite protective and attached to us. She’s learning new things every day.”
“Scooby’s been given the ultimate gift this Christmas,” said Perrins. “The gift of life, love and a second chance with a family that truly cares!”