A night of unimaginable cruelty ended in a community’s circle of protection for one Welkom doggie, Felix.
Free State, South Africa (02 October 2026) – Screams of terror echoed through the streets of Thabong in Welkom after midnight. It was a dog. Felix, affectionately named by the heroes who came to help him.
People were trying to kill Felix. He was being beaten and stabbed while trapped in a wire snare. The cruelty was unimaginable.
Perhaps the vile souls attacking him thought they’d get away with it, but they didn’t.
Concerned community members stepped in. They stood guard around Felix and covered him with a warm blanket. They called the Virginia SPCA. The inspectorate had been hit with the flu, but when the emergency phone rang, the team hit the road in the dead of night to save him. To save Felix. An innocent dog who had every reason to give up on humans. They had failed him. They had hurt him. They had nearly killed him.
But, as the SPCA says, while some people can be indescribably cruel, others can be extraordinarily kind.
The compassionate souls who saw a dog suffering stood around him in protection until Field Officer Mandela Phakira and Field Assistants Peter Kamwaza and Samuel Mafethe reached the scene.
Team VSPCA came, and so did SAPS, and the Special Operations Group.
“Everyone pulled together and, through their actions, said: ‘You are NOT going to die tonight.’” writes the SPCA.
Felix was brought to safety. After a visit to the vet, he is now in the care of the SPCA. In the photos below, he wears his rescue dog sash, standing alongside the two of the several heroes who showed up for him that night.
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“Today, our Senior Inspector and Field Officer, accompanied by our Field Assistant, returned to the place where Felix had been attacked.” the SPCA shared yesterday. “This time, they weren’t there to load an injured dog. The suspect was arrested. A case was opened. Now the work begins.”
The cruelty that Felix endured will not be forgotten, nor will it be ignored.
“Animal cruelty must have consequences. Violence against animals should never be dismissed as insignificant. When communities speak up against cruelty, they help build safer, more compassionate communities for animals and people alike.” writes the SPCA.
“A huge thank you once again to the people who became Felix’s heroes during those terrifying early-morning hours and made contact with us. Thank you to Team VSPCA — Always There, SAPS Thabong and Special Operations Group Welkom for standing with us.”
Felix is bruised and he has his battle scars, but he will never know that suffering again.
“The person accused of attacking him must now face the charges and the justice process.”
To support the work the Virginia SPCA does, find out how you can help here.
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