21/07/2025
The Resilience of a Corgi – Willow’s Incredible Story
Now that the dust has settled, many of you have been asking how young Willow is doing after her unexpected adventure as a four-legged escape artist. Here’s a look back at Willow’s incredible five-day adventure, which was filled with twists, teamwork, and a joyful ending.
Seven-month-old Willow, who belongs to Mary-Anne van Biljon, travelled to the Natal Shows in Shongweni with Dian Darroll and her trusty companion Scrumpy. The family was staying on a farm in the beautiful but rugged Dargle Valley in the Midlands, where Dian’s son is currently renting a house. Willow was on a collar and lead but was startled by three neighbouring dogs. In her panic, she slipped her collar and bolted into the surrounding farmland, disappearing into thick bush and unfamiliar terrain.
What followed was a frantic five-day search filled with worry, determination, and immense teamwork. The terrain was vast and unforgiving, with thick bush, rivers, and busy roads. Despite the odds, Willow somehow navigated farms, crossed roads, and survived on cow dung, afterbirth, and who knows what else. Thankfully, she had access to water throughout.
The search effort quickly became a community-wide mission. Tracking dogs, drones with infrared cameras, volunteers on foot and quad bikes, and even an animal communicator were all brought in to help. Though there were a few sightings, Willow remained elusive, always one step ahead.
On day five, Dian and Mary-Anne decided to try a calmer approach. Mary-Anne sat quietly in a field, gently calling Willow’s name and whistling, while Dian drove around with Scrumpy, hoping his familiar scent might lure her in. Then came the breakthrough. Lee-Ann Jones, a resident, stopped Dian to say she’d spotted Willow on the main road, just before she darted into the nearby WEZCO chicken farm. Rudi Bartels, the farm manager, immediately leapt into action on his quad bike. Thanks to his persistence and the help of his workers, Willow was finally cornered and gently caught. She was safe!
When Willow was finally caught, she was terrified, but the moment she was in Mary-Anne’s arms and saw Scrumpy in the back of the car, she calmed down almost instantly. She was a little thin but devoured three bowls of food before curling up for a well-earned nap. Her resilience, spirit, and sheer grit are nothing short of remarkable.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped in Willow’s recovery:
* Sue Reid, who sponsored animal communicator Di Kendall, whose insights were invaluable.
* Dylan from Drone Air, for his expert drone searches.
* Lisette Turner from the KZN Canine Search & Rescue Association of Southern Africa..
* Laiken Hodgson and Jeremy from HDDT K9 Services, and their brilliant search dogs, Scarlett (Malinois) and Gatsby (Pit Bull).
* Rudi Bartels and his team at WEZCO Chicken Farm, whose efforts led to Willow’s safe recovery.
* Lee-Ann Jones, who spotted Willow and reported her location.
* Laura Luppnow from Durban South Coast, who came to lend her support in person.
* The Dargle Valley community, for sharing updates and spreading the word far and wide.
* To all who phoned, prayed, donated, posted, or simply held Willow in their hearts - thank you.
We're overjoyed to report that Willow is back to her lively, cheeky self and even strutted her stuff at the PetExpo shows this past weekend, where she won a Minor Puppy class in the Welsh Pembroke Corgi section. Quite the comeback!
This little Corgi taught us all a lesson in courage, spirit, and survival. Welcome home, Willow!
