15/02/2026
WE LOST PONGO 💔
We are completely devastated to announce the tragic loss of our boy Pongo, who passed away in a drowning incident last week.
Pongo was rescued with his sister Perdita in March 2023 in one of the worst conditions we had ever seen. It took nearly 9 months for Pongo to fully heal, and they spent another 2.5 years waiting to be chosen. In that time, they became PATA’s mascots, accompanying us to fairs, fundraisers, and school events. Their story was more than simply one of rehabilitation but of faith & redemption and at last, in early January this year, they finally got the chance to move out of the kennels and experience life in a wonderful foster home. They were our longest residents, and seeing them embrace the novelty of a loving home made our hearts burst. Devastatingly, this was short lived as just a few weeks later, in a complete freak accident Pongo drowned in the pool, leaving his lifelong companion Perdita and all of those that knew and loved him utterly bereft. We continue to be in a state of shock and are still grappling with this grief, continuously asking the question of how could such a sweet, kind, wonderful dog be so unlucky in life. What we know is there is no one to blame here, this was truly an accident and in this tragedy we are reminded and wish to remind you all to remain vigilant of our pets’ surroundings — to keep them close, supervised, and safe whenever possible. Not out of fear, but out of love.
Pongo was deeply loved, and his life, though cut short, mattered immensely. He will always be part of our story, and his memory will stay with us as we continue the work we do in his honor. We ask for your kindness, to us and his foster mom as we are deeply affected by this loss. The greatest way we can honor Pongo would be to find his beloved sister Perdita a forever home where she can live the dream they should have shared together. Rest peacefully, Pongo. We are so sorry boy.
