They received a dog kennel as a donation from a homeless shelter, so they paid back the kindness with a pony!
Cape Town, South Africa (21 January 2026) – Special pony visits only happen where kindness thrives.
Somerset West Night Shelter has been serving homeless people in the Helderberg area for almost 40 years. Theirs is the only shelter of its kind in the Western Cape, caring for individuals and families.
They do it all. They offer skills training, rehabilitation and counselling for the homeless, as well as employment opportunities, school transport, social services and education. On top of that, the shelter runs baby and toddler daycare, provides health and wellness support, coaching, and a safe space for the needy to take refuge.
Four decades of love, and they’re still finding ways to do more…
Recently, the shelter decided to donate an unused dog kennel to the Glen Graze Rescue & Rehabilitation Sanctuary, based in their community of Somerset West.
The sanctuary rescues, rehabilitates and cares for animals that have been neglected, abused or abandoned. This includes horses, farm animals and pets, all of whom are given a safe space to recover, rebuild trust and live with dignity. They also focus on the healing connection between humans and animals. They encourage children and adults to interact with the animals in a gentle, supportive environment and use these experiences to build confidence, emotional wellbeing and compassion, while also raising awareness about responsible animal care.
When Glen Graze received the generous donation for their four-pawed rescues, they instantly knew they wanted to repay the kindness in a way that would bring smiles, joy and laughter to everyone at the shelter.
And so they paid everyone a visit with a very special guest in tow. Tafiki the pony!
“You guys do amazing work with people in need and still have time to assist animals in need – so we took the time for Tafiki to visit this organisation and she was showered with walks, love, hugs and so much more!” shared the sanctuary.
A shelter helping animals. A sanctuary giving back to people. A pony visit that no one expected. Acts of kindness that leave us grinning from ear to ear!
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