The day we have all been waiting for took place yesterday; the Magnificent 5 were spoiled for helping save Champ – It was a BIG day!
Cape Town, South Africa (17 September 2020) – Seven days after hearing about the Magnificent 5, South Africans rejoice in seeing how the country came together to honour their efforts.
A week ago, the five young boys were moved to help a very skinny and scared labrador they found hiding in some bushes. The Animal Welfare Society of SA shared their heartwarming story and supporters have been praising the Magnificent 5 for the heroic efforts.
The Animal Welfare Society of SA is located in Philippi and offers a full range of veterinary services to the underprivileged and disadvantaged communities of Cape Town. The Society handles about 4,000 animals per month. The Clinic is open 7 days a week to accommodate those that are unable to bring their pets during the week.
After the Magnificent 5’s story went viral, we shared the update about Champ, who has since found his forever home. Many have been waiting for this story though. The Animal Welfare Society of SA started collecting money to buy a reward for the boys but once people heard their story, brands started jumping on board to spoil the little heroes.
All the updates have now happened so we have some very heartwarming photos and snippets to share with you. Take a look below.
It has been a week of spoils for the boys and their families but the team at AWS shared a small insight that stood out beyond the reactions of the rewards.
Thanks to your terrific response to our story about the Magnificent 5 and Champ we got to fulfil our promises to you and the boys yesterday.
We promised that we would reward the boys for their heroic deed and we did so in style.
We promised that we would find Champ a loving forever home and we have.
Please indulge us one last time as together we savour this special moment.
When our Head of Communications Allan Perrins asked 7-year-old Zubenathi the youngest of the group why they decided to stop and help Champ his response like most children was utterly honest.
He looked Allan straight in the eye and said: “Dogs love us. They are our friends. They protect us. So we must love and protect them. That’s why we helped Champ”.
It took a moment for his profound response to sink in by which time an excited Champ was led in.
There were quite a few people present at the award ceremony but Champ immediately recognised Zubenathi and ran over to him.
What happened next may best be described as a magnum opus moment that could not have been scripted, choreographed or anticipated by anyone.
Zubenathi adoringly clasped his tiny little hands around Champs head lent down and kissed him twice squarely on the nose.
The impact this little heroes spontaneous affection towards Champ had on everyone was overwhelming and one of the many reasons we believe this story that had to be told resonated with animal lovers across the globe.
The week started out with Champ getting a delightful food sponsorship from Regal Pet Healthcare South Africa and Royal Canin SA. Now he can pack on the pounds again and fill out to his fullest potential. Everything leading up to the 16th has been a surprise for the boys but they got everything they deserved and more!
Each of the boys, and their families, were invited to do a big grocery shop at the Rosemead Spar. They left with trolleys overflowing – try not to cry thinking of how life-changing that is during these times! They celebrated the big shop in the best way, take a look.
The Magnificent 5 then went over to Pick n Pay where they were given a backpack filled with clothing, a water bottle, a soccer ball, colouring kits and books, modelling clay, and sweets and snacks. The community donated dog food to AWS and the boys were given hero awards too!
Thanks to the donations from supporters, they each got to go shopping for new clothing at the Pick n Pay. Lastly, they each got to choose a pair of new kicks at Tekkie Town and were gifted books from the ‘Hero in my Hood’ Story Activity Books.
Jackie from Jackie Wernberg Photography captured some of the exciting moments of the day. After everything, the boys learned about paying it forward in the best way. They received so much for something they didn’t even consider, they just wanted what was best for Champ.
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I came upon your Website by accident. I love it! I am using some of your articles in my teaching in 2021 as I believe we need to focus on the positive and surround ourselves with the good that takes place around us. I plan to share the amazing actions of the ‘Magnificent 5’ and the doctors who save lives and use this as stimulus material for my students to write (e-mails of thanks as well as magazine articles in response to what they have read. Your pages will be my inspiration for 2021. Thank you for this.