Frightening fireworks caused a pair of pooches to flee from their homes. After a journey of almost 30 km and 6 days, a security NPO found them and united the Bedfordview community to help the dogs reunite with their families!
Gauteng, South Africa (12 January 2025) — The Bedfordview community came together in a beautiful way recently in assisting two dogs to reunite with their families. The pooches had fled from frightening fireworks that led them a long, long way from home.
Despite the push-back against fireworks over the festive season, there are still many people who irresponsibly celebrate with them unnecessarily, causing many animals (including but not limited to dogs) immense stress. This stress can make dogs and cats alike run away in an effort to protect themselves, as was the case for the pair of pooches from New Year’s Eve.
On 6 January, an observant reaction officer was patrolling Bedfordview on behalf of the NPO Residents Action Group. There, he spotted the two dogs without owners nearby and went to investigate. The dogs were then taken to the organisation’s security control centre while alerts went out to locate their owners.
The Bedfordview community leapt into action, spreading the word near and far and donating dog food for the poor pets in distress.
When RAG took their lost and founds on four legs to a local animal clinic, they faced relief and shock. Relief that the animals were microchipped and shocked at just how far they’d come.
“We were astonished to discover that they had come all the way from Alberton. It is a miracle that they survived,” says RAG general manager Mark Morris.
The pair had travelled an incredible distance of around 30 km over the 6 days!
Soon, their owners were found and contacted for a special reunion, which wouldn’t have been possible without RAG, an Integral part of the Bedfordview community for the last 22 years.
“We are called to respond to everything from vehicle accidents, security incidents, alarms, fires and suspicious people, to medical emergencies, lost pets and bad drivers. This wasn’t our first animal rescue, but it did turn out to be quite unusual. It shows how important it is to microchip your pets,” Mark shared.
However, it cannot be overstated how much incidents like this can be avoided if we change our perspective on fireworks.
Bedfordviewer and animal activist Kaylene Ferreira articulated the deep frustration many animal lovers share over the festive period.
“Every year, animal rescuers beg for compassion and kindness during New Year’s celebrations. Every year, we are ignored. How wonderful it would be for the animals, wild and tame, not to be harmed by selfish people who do not care about the distress, terror and injuries that fireworks cause to animals. If your fun hurts others it’s not okay!”
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