This happy ending belongs to a doggie that deserves all the belly rubs and an animal organisation that raced to save her!
Johannesburg, South Africa (05 March 2026) – In the video, you can hear a young girl’s voice speaking softly, her voice full of worry, while Layla lies completely unresponsive on the ground, her small body failing her.
This is a sad and familiar sight for the team at PETS JHB. Poisoning claims the lives of many township dogs, and most don’t make it in time. This time, Layla did.
Pet Empowerment in Townships (PETS), an animal rescue organisation that supports animals in underserved townships, raced to save her when they received the call. When they arrived, she still couldn’t stand or walk. They rushed her off to Radiokop Animal Clinic, where vets worked to save her life. She spent days in their care, fighting for her life.
This week, Layla went home, and we cried happy tears. The same dog who lay limp and unresponsive runs to greet her family and immediately rolls over for belly rubs.
Saving Layla’s life came at a cost, and that cost is still largely outstanding.
“We are beyond thrilled for Layla, that we were able to get to her in time and save her life. But it has cost a fair amount of money. She’s been at the vet for over a week. Only one person donated to her treatment and we urgently need to pay the rest of her bill so that we can continue to help other dogs like her.” shares PETS.
If you would like to help, follow this link for details.
Prof Elsabe Kearsley’s Innovation Can Turn Trash into Stronger, Sustainable City Spaces
South Africa, Let’s Help Border Collie Rescue Find a New Home
by 
