SPCA Grahamstown (South Africa) & the Good DOG Fund
- Animal-Kind International
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
The Good DOG Fund (Dogs of Grahamstown) was created in November 2024 when AKI supporters, who were impressed by the SPCA Grahamstown's AKI grant project, decided they wanted the SPCA to be able to continue their lifesaving work. They donated to create a fund to cover the costs to sterilize dogs and cats and provide vet care in marginalized townships around Grahamstown (Makhanda).
In September 2025, the Good DOG Fund was replenished and the Good DOG Fund 2 was created. These are some of the animals that the Good DOG Fund has helped.
Giggles came to the SPCA Grahamstown shelter as a stray with a skin condition. He was treated by vet and special food was prescribed. Good news: he was already neutered. And more good news: Giggles was adopted!
Scooter was scheduled to be neutered. But his neuter was not straightforward; he had an undescended testicle. Luckily, the Good DOG Fund was there to help Scooter!
Hazel and her siblings were surrendered to the SPCA as her owner was overwhelmed by so many cats in his small house as well as the cost of feeding them.
Michelle at the SPCA wrote, "We noticed that Hazel did not use her left foreleg. Hazel was x-rayed and the vet said it was an earlier injury that had set incorrectly. Hazel would either have to be euthanized or have her leg amputated. Thanks to the Good D.O.G. Fund, Hazel received a second chance and had her leg amputated. After some post-op care at the kennels, Hazel left for her new home. (Her new mom was quite happy to adopt a 3-legged cat)." Hazel was spayed at 6 months old.
In January, the Good DOG Fund helped a donkey.
Michelle wrote: "Following numerous reports about a donkey with a very bad wound on his rear, our team finally caught up with him on New Year’s day! The donkey was treated for a donkey bite wound."
Here's Ounooi's story, one of 19 dogs and cats helped by the Good DOG Fund in February:
Treated on New Year’s day for donkey bites, the New Year donkey (above) was in trouble again in March with a deep slash on his neck and more bite wounds. Ithemba Vet stitched his neck and cleaned and treated his wounds. But still, on March 31, his wounds were looking very bad. Dr Annie collected him and placed him under their care.
Benji’s owners contacted the SPCA as she had given birth to a deceased premature pup and no further pups followed. Benji was checked out by the vet and no more pups were present. She was spayed.
Michelle told us about the close call that Princess had: "Princess was bitten by puffadder snake while out with the children. The children ran to Inspector Dingana’s house with Princess in a wheelbarrow, to ask for help.
Under normal circumstances, for snake bites such as a puffadder, we would euthanise as anti-venom is in short supply and extremely costly, often without a positive result. Inspector Dingana could not refuse the children and rushed Princess to the vet.
Princess was was treated with anti-venom for humans. She was kept for 2 nights and Princess pulled through!
But, Princess was pregnant and the vet was worried about the effect of the anti-venom on her unborn pups. She was taken to the kennels to be monitored. After a few days she started miscarrying and was rushed back to the vet for an emergency spay. Princess was taken home once she had recovered from surgery."
Lucy’s owners contacted the SPCA as she had been involved in a motor vehicle accident and her eye was damaged. Lucy was rushed to Ikhala Vet, where her eye was removed and she was spayed as well. She was admitted to the SPCA kennels where she had to wear an Elizabethan collar for the recovery period. Lucy went home on April 30 – 18 days later!
Sweety had been stabbed (how can anyone be so cruel???) and Inspector Dingana was concerned the knife had pierced her intestine. Sweety was rushed for surgery, but fortunately it was not the intestine protruding and Sweety was stitched up. On the April 20, Sweety was scheduled for a spay, but on opening her up, the vet found her abdomen filled with blood. The blood would drain away in time, so Sweety was hospitalized overnight again, then sent back to the kennels and the spay put on hold. Sweety was later spayed and returned home.
This is Stimorol's story:
As the post says, with Stimerol, Good DOG Fund 2 ended. But that's not the end of the Good DOG Fund. Our generous supporters surprised all of us with more funding for Good DOG Fund 3. The SPCA can now help more dogs, cats, and donkeys in Grahamstown, South Africa!
