After Joy Matodzi noticed a tiny Yorkie being physically harmed, she didn’t hesitate to fight for and rescue him. Little did she know that this little dog was Coco, a missing pup whose real family was desperately searching for him. An incredible story of real-life heroism:
Louis Trichardt, South Africa (12 March 2024)—Small shop owner Joy Matodzi lived up to her name after she brought the Van Heerden family immense joy by reuniting them with their tiny yorkie, Coco.
But this was not a case of finding a dog that had simply taken a wrong turn and gotten lost.
In late February, the Van Heerden’s hearts broke when Coco went ‘missing’. Calls for help and social media search parties were quickly underway, with the Louis Trichardt SPCA spreading the word far and wide.
“Sadly, no one had seen Coco anywhere and so the days dragged by for the family, fearing the worst,” the SPCA shared.
While the search persisted, the SPCA received a phone call; one they did not know at the time, was actually the answer to this family’s prayers.
Joy, who runs her shop on Kruger Street called in to ask for help with a dog she had recently rescued. She explained to to SPCA that she had “seen a puppy being dragged on a rope and beaten” by an individual. Knowing she could not let this happen on her watch, Joy fought for the little dog and even paid the man R150 to give the pooch to her, as the Zoutpansberger reports.
“He admitted to her that he had stolen the dog and was going to sell it for money,” the SPCA said.
Alicia Thomas of the SPCA prepared to collect the dog as Joy explained she could not keep him. To her incredible surprise, upon meeting Joy, the dog in her care was none other than Coco himself!
Coco’s family were contacted as soon as they knew the little guy was theirs—something that might never have happened if Joy hadn’t used her voice for the voiceless.
“Thanks to Joy, this caring lady, who did not just turn a blind eye to the abuse of an animal, but stepped up and saved Coco. It is people like JOY that restore our faith in humanity and the pure goodness that is still out there,” the SPCA shared, commending Joy for her heart and action.
Coco was reunited with his family for whom Joy will forever be a hero. They not only repaid her (although she insisted on using the money to help another animal who should need it), but also gave her small business’s truck a rebranding surprise as a thank you!
Doesn’t it just go to show that you never know initially how far a random act of kindness can travel?
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