When a dog was reported trapped in a dark canal near Rondebosch, Inspector Crystal and volunteer Janice jumped in and didn’t come out until they’d saved not one, but three!
Cape Town, South Africa (27 February 2026) – Animal Welfare heroes know all too well that sometimes there are days when the job asks more of you than you ever expected to give. But for the sake of saving lives, it’s always worth it.
This week, Inspector Crystal and volunteer Janice had one of those days and three dogs are alive because of it.
Ben from CSS Army Response first called it in after he had spotted a dog trapped inside the canal running alongside the M5 near Rondebosch. He didn’t hesitate to give the Animal Welfare Society of SA a ring. Inspectors responded just as speedily. Crystal and Janice were already on their way.
When they arrived, Ben pointed them toward where he last saw the dog. A long, dark and rather daunting underground tunnel that stretched further on than what they could see…so they went in wielding torches!
The conditions were far from sunshine and rainbows.
“Inside the tunnel, they were met with extremely hazardous and unsanitary conditions. They had to navigate through moving water and areas contaminated with human waste, while large spiders clung to the tunnel walls in the darkness. Despite these difficult and distressing conditions, the search continued, because somewhere inside, an animal was in need of help.” shared AWS SA.
Well, as it turns out, not just one animal. Three!
“Working swiftly and calmly, the team secured one of the dogs before moving toward the other two. With careful coordination and the use of ropes, all three dogs were safely restrained and brought under control.”
It took torches, ropes, and trudging through sludgy, wet, unsanitary conditions, but Inspector Crystal and Janice, with Ben’s help, managed to get all three pooches back to safety.
“Thanks to rapid response, courage, and strong teamwork, three lives were saved yesterday.” the organisation shared.
When the dogs were placed into the vehicle after being helped up from the canal, they were totally drained but they were out and in good hands.
“The dogs were understandably exhausted when placed into our vehicle, but they were safe and that is what matters most.”
Not everyone would be willing to hop into a dark, filthy tunnel and keep going when there’s no guarantee of what you’ll find. It’s a serious risk of safety. Crystal and Janice had that in them. So did Ben, who spotted the dogs and made the call that started a rescue that now has a very happy ending!
Sources: Linked above.
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This phrase celebrates the heroic actions of Crystal and Janice, who rescued three dogs from a dirty canal. It emphasizes courage, compassion, and the impact of taking action to protect animals in need.