11/06/2026
Perfectly said.....
Where will it end? 💔
Across South Africa, dogs and cats are pouring into rescue organisations at a rate we have never experienced before.
The reasons vary…
Some are genuine and heartbreaking — families facing illness, medical treatment, financial hardship with children who now live overseas and are unable to take in their parents’ beloved pets. Many are leaving the country. So many non pet friendly complexes.
Some animals are surrendered through the correct channels.
Others are simply abandoned, left behind with a kind stranger stepping in to save them.
But the reality is this…
In just 10 days, Pug Rescue South Africa has taken in 12 surrenders, 2 long-term care cases (and we often wonder if they will ever be collected), with another 2 surrenders pending.
This is over and above the many rescues already depending on us.
And when these animals arrive, there is usually no financial support left behind. Sometimes a bag of food is donated — and we are grateful. But most of the time, the responsibility becomes ours.
These rescues need:
🐾 Sterilisation
🐾 Vaccinations
🐾 Microchipping
🐾 Dental procedures
🐾 Veterinary care
🐾 Food, love, and daily care
We are often approached to take in non-Pugs too, because people say:
"We know they will be safe with you."
And we wish we could say yes to every single one… but rescue has limits. Space, finances, and resources are real.
People surrender and they tell us what a wonderful job we do. They are amazed that we keep going, that we fundraise every weekend, that we care for these animals. But admiration does not pay the veterinary bills, the food or the staff.
The animals keep coming.
And while rescue centres struggle to keep up, irresponsible backyard breeding continues — producing more animals for profit while existing ones are already in desperate need.
There is also a misconception that shelters are funded by government or that they have endless money and endless space.
The truth?
Most rescues are powered by ordinary people who refuse to give up.
We have to ask ourselves: when did we stop taking responsibility for our animals for their entire lives?
Yes, there are situations beyond someone’s control. We understand that. Illness and genuine hardship happen, and compassion is needed.
But far too often, surrender becomes the easiest option.
We have become a society where, when things become inconvenient, we dispose.
So we complete surrender forms.
We listen.
We hold back the tears.
We wonder how we will manage the next arrival.
And then we look into those little faces and remind ourselves why we do this.
Because every life matters.
We will keep fighting.
We will keep rescuing.
We will keep believing that compassion can be stronger than convenience.
At times we feel overwhelmed but we know we have your support. ❤️
Pug Rescue SA
Nedbank cheque acc: 1001907396
PayPal: [email protected]
