When your second chance also comes with ranger status. Two stray Africanis puppies have been adopted to serve on SAWC’s K9 Unit!
Phalaborwa, South Africa (25 February 2026) – This one ticks not one but two ‘good news’ boxes! Not only have two stray puppies found a home with wildlife heroes, they’re going to become K9 working dogs who protect wildlife.
In early February, the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) in collaboration with Helping All Animals in Rural Towns (HAART) paid a visit to the Phalaborwa Rescue Centre and left with two new rangers…
“We were looking for the next generation of conservation heroes. We are thrilled to announce that we’ve adopted two fearless, confident young pups into the SAWC K9 Unit!” SAWC shares.
Based on the edge of the Kruger National Park, the SAWC gives rangers and conservationists the boots-on-the-ground skills they need to protect Africa’s wild spaces. Over 30 years, they’ve trained over 23,000 people from 60 countrie into world-class leaders in everything from anti-poaching to ecosystem management.
Africanis dogs aren’t traditionally trained as working dogs – like their fellow coonhounds in SAWC’s K9 Unit – but they happen to be incredibly intelligent and resilient – both great traits for the job.
“We are constantly innovating. While our coonhounds are legendary, we are excited to see how these local ‘talents’ compare in critical roles…” the SAWC adds.
Freddie and Soul will be trained in detection work, line dog duties and pack dog roles.
“They are already adapting incredibly well to their new home. Right now, it’s all about socialisation, but training begins in earnest next week. We are champing at the bit to see what these two can do!”
From rescue pups to rangers! It’s a joy to see animal welfare and conservation organisations work together to give stray dogs a second chance, and in the same breath, wildlife better protection.
“We are so proud to be collaborating with Southern African Wildlife College with the adoption of little Soul and Freddie who both demonstrate the true Africanis intelligence, survival skills, scent detection, incredible social skills, all round the perfect dogs for home or in this case, we hope with the guidance of their Rangers and great training, they will be able to be Protectors of Wildlife.” comments HAART.
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