Puppy love: Two Cape Town kids and a packet of NikNaks to the rescue

While the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) has had many good stories to tell, this was by far one of the most heartwarming tales. On Thursday 27 May, two young girls from a farm in Philippi, Cape Town took the health of their puppy into their own hands and were willing to give up their packet of NikNaks in exchange for help.

GIRLS WILLING TO OFFER UP NIKNAKS FOR WELL-BEING OF PUPPY 

According to Resource Development and Communications Officer Allan Perrins, the nine-year-old girls visited AWS with their puppy explaining that it was sick and not eating.

The girls said they didn’t have money to have the puppy treated but they did, ever so sweetly, extend their arm urging Perrins to take the Nik-Naks in exchange for assistance.  

While they were told to keep the Nik-Naks, Perrins checked the balance in the AWS PayFast account, which luckily, covered the treatment that the puppy needed. He explained that several donours made that possible. While it may have looked like a serious condition upon arrival, the employees at AWS quickly realised that the puppy simply needed to be dewormed and given wet dog food.   

Perrins described the girls as very soft-spoken and caring. He also said he takes comfort in the fact that the girls now know they can turn to AWS should they come into contact with another animal in need. 

He said it could be that the packet of NikNaks was their last or only meal for the day as they come from an impoverished environment but yet, they were still determined to put their puppy first. He went on to say that they are so mature for their age to carry that kind of empathy with them.

AWS hopes that it can be a beacon of hope for various communities whereby caring for both human and animal always takes precedence. Perrins said it’s important to teach young children certain values in life which will then no doubt spill over onto the next generation and influence our future leaders.  

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP THE GIRLS AND THEIR PUPPY 

Should you wish to donate care packages, blankets, clothes or dog food to the girls and their puppy, we’ve got you covered. Perrins said one can deliver those items to the following places. 

• Hart Nursery – 350 Ottery Rd, Ottery, Cape Town (8:00 – 16:00) 

• Little Orchard Nursery – Massinger Rd, Diep River, Cape Town (8:00 – 16:00)  

• Starke Ayres Garden Centre – 21 Liesbeek Parkway, Rosebank, Cape Town (8:00 – 16:00) 

If you have any questions, you may get in touch with Allan Perrins from AWS on 021-692-2626 or 078-631-5126 or send an email to allanperrins@awscape.org.za. 

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