Siyabonga Gives Back to Animal Welfare That Helped Him 13 Years Later

Photo Credit: Little Paws Big Hearts

They first met Siyabonga when he was a young boy and needed help caring for his beloved greyhounds. Now he’s all grown up and has decided it’s his turn to help.

Mpumalanga, South Africa (17 September 2026) – Little Paws Big Hearts first started visiting township communities 13 years ago.

They met children who adored their animals, in families who needed help accessing things like veterinary care, food and sterilisation. The organisation has been there all these years, and over time, the children in the communities they’ve served have grown up right in front of them.

Siyabonga was around 10-years-old when the team first got to know him and his greyhounds. He loved his dogs very dearly, and whenever one of them needed veterinary attention, Little Paws Big Hearts did what it could to make sure they received help.

Siyabonga isn’t a little boy anymore. He’s a young man with a job of his own, but he hasn’t forgotten the kind people who helped him care for his animals growing up.

The animal welfare organisation recently received another call about one of Siyabonga’s dogs, who was unwell and needed help.

It came at a difficult time for them. Little Paws Big Hearts’ veterinary account is currently frozen, which makes getting medical care for the animals it steps in for even more difficult. The team works across rural communities around Secunda, Kinross, Kriel, Trichardt and Evander, helping dogs and cats through veterinary care, sterilisation drives, food support and community education.

Those vet bills add up remarkably quickly, but still, the team told Siyabonga they would see what they could do for his dog. As they always have. Once everything had been sorted, Siyabonga surprised them.

He told the team that he remembered how kind they had always been to him and how, throughout his childhood, they had helped his animals whenever they could. Now that he is earning an income, he wants to start making a contribution towards their veterinary account every month. That is incredibly special!

Animal welfare outreach does far more for communities than treating their animals. When organisations work with families over years, the children watch and learn what responsible pet care looks like, why animals deserve kindness and that there are always helpers willing to step in for the animals.

Siyabonga grew up with that, and he wants to make sure the organisation that grew up alongside him can keep offering that same help to others!

“Our hearts are bursting with pride. This is why we do what we do. Our work is not in vain. Sometimes, the greatest reward isn’t money or recognition. It is knowing that somewhere along the way, you made a difference in a young person’s life — and years later, that kindness comes full circle.” Little Paws Big Hearts shared on Facebook.