South Africa’s community spirit shone brightly as over 150 people rallied together for five days to find Teddy, a missing foster pup, who was finally found safe and brought home.
Western Cape, South Africa (10 July 2024) – South Africa is known for its vibrant spirit and unparalleled community love, and when the call to rally together comes, this nation rises to the occasion. Teddy, the missing foster dog, is a prime example of how deeply this love runs.
After “breaking the internet” and prompting a massive search involving 150 people over five days, Teddy was finally found, bringing immense relief and joy to everyone involved.
African Tails, a dedicated animal welfare organisation, took Teddy under their wing after rescuing him from dire circumstances on the 1st of July. His photos told a harrowing story of neglect: underweight, missing fur, and a profound sadness in his eyes. However, African Tails showered him with love, treats, and even a Springboks jersey to keep him warm (and show support for our rugby team). This might have been the first time Teddy had experienced human kindness and worn any clothing.

Despite being placed in a secure and loving foster home, Teddy broke out on the 5th of July, coinciding with a severe cold front hitting the Western Cape. Rain, wind, and freezing temperatures made the situation even more urgent and worrying. The community quickly mobilised, sharing his story across social media, and a determined search party of over 150 people scoured the area, sometimes late into the night and even into the early hours of the morning.
“African Tails” and Kim Nicola Stephens, a friend of Good Things Guy, provided continuous updates as South Africa waited anxiously for good news.
African Tails, founded in 2006 on the dusty streets of Du Noon township in Cape Town, focuses on mass sterilisation campaigns, education programmes, and rescuing animals in need from informal settlements. Their tireless efforts and the community’s involvement highlight the extraordinary lengths people will go to help an animal in need.

On the 5th of July, updates began to pour in.
“We have been searching since he broke out. He was spotted a few different times, and the last spotting was Sunday morning around 3 a.m. in the De Grendel wine farm / municipal area adjacent to it. This is between Panorama and the Burgundy area.
He runs frantically away from people so he is not easy to catch. We have been searching ever since as well as monitoring a trap, with the help of many caring individuals.
We are all incredibly concerned because he has Ehrlichia and needs his medication, and the weather is really bad. He could also be hurt, so we are aware of all of this and know that time is of the essence. We are out here again today and trying everything we can with the access permissions that we currently have. We are also trying to locate a suitable physical dog tracker and doing everything we can to make it happen as fast as possible.”
Over the next couple of days, Teddy was spotted at various locations but remained elusive, often running frantically away from people. Despite the challenging conditions and the urgency due to his need for medication, the search continued relentlessly. Volunteers monitored traps, coordinated search efforts, and even used thermal imaging in their quest to find him.
Finally, on 9th July, after almost five whole days of being missing, the breakthrough came.
At around 21:15, Teddy walked into a dog trap at his foster home. The joy and relief were palpable. Teddy was unharmed and in good spirits, happy to be reunited with his foster mom. He was taken for a thorough check-up and his next set of skin injections, ensuring his continued recovery.
“He is not injured and seems to be in good spirits. He is incredibly happy to be home and with his foster mom!” – African Tails
We celebrate this heartwarming outcome and extend our deepest gratitude to all who shared, supported, prayed, and searched. Your kindness and dedication made this happy ending possible. Teddy is home, and the world is a brighter place for it.
Watch the awesome update video below (where his Foster Mom jokingly tells him that he is grounded for life):
African Tails is a small team that requires as much assistance as possible to keep doing the good work it does. Visit their website to get involved!