JOCK Legends

After an intruder attacked the Wessels family in their home in Richards Bay during the night, not only did Hans and his son, Daniel, require medical treatment, but also their pure-bred Pitbull, Skye, had to be rushed to surgery. Her injuries were very severe, but this brave member of the family had given everything to […]

For humans, lockdown has been a very challenging time. For those fortunate enough to be spending this time with furry friends at their side, lockdown has also been a time of special bonding. All around the world, stories of four-legged legends are being shared. Some entertaining, some heartwarming, and all of them sure to make

When Markus Brenner gave a little brindle-coloured stray a home, he didn’t realise how much this dog would change his life. But little did he know that Bonni would one day also save his and his family’s life. We chatted to Markus about his beloved friend and the night that could have turned out tragically.

Heroes rising from the ashes In one of the worst ecological disasters to hit the world in decades, there have been many victims — most notably the millions of animals who have perished in the flames. While the crisis of Australia’s bushfires is ongoing and far from over, the courage of the heroes involved in

Perhaps you’ve seen the video. Hunter, a 7-months Belgian Malinois and a 2-day old abandoned giraffe calf named Jazz lying side by side, licking and nuzzling each other. Basically one of the cutest things you’ve seen this year. We spoke to Yolande van der Merwe, Manager at The Rhino Orphanage where Hunter lives, to find out a little more about his remarkable affinity for guarding over the weak and vulnerable.

It was Mahatma Gandhi who said that the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way it treats its animals. This thought can perhaps be taken further: how do we treat our old animals — the dogs who’ve given their lives to serve us? Lynne & Johann Wilhelm’s organization, Retreat 2 Eden, has a unique project which focuses specifically on retired service dogs. We spoke to Johann about their K9 Hero Project and got inspired.

If there’s one national hero who deserves proper respect and dignity, it’s Just Nuisance, the legendary Great Dane of Simon’s Town. When his well-known bronze statue was vandalized, JOCK decided to step in and to come to the aid of our friend, by financing the restoration of the iconic landmark.

The police in the Western Cape has their hands full with drug dealers. Luckily, they have one member on their team with a nose for the job. Meet Savage, a three-year old Sable German Shepherd who has just received a South African Police Service Medal for his outstanding work in sniffing out drugs.

Every month at JOCK, we celebrate the unsung heroes, both dogs and humans, who make a difference in changing the lives of others and inspire us. With Mandela Day on the 18th of July, we thought we’d remind you of one of our biggest heroes working at the SPCA in Centurion. But more importantly, remind you that change can start with something really small: the seed of inspiration inside every one of us.

When three dogs went missing in Westville, west of Durban, their owners, Blake and Karin Louwrens, had no idea how firmly the community would stand behind them. Not only did Blue become an unlikely poster girl — she also inspired a new non-profit organization called the Blue Bundu Brigade. JOCK spoke to the Louwrens’ friend and co-founder Karen Janisch to find out more.