Bodhi’s Story

One of the rescue’s most memorable cases was a dog named Bodhi.

“We received a call from a man in Shoshanguve,” she recalls. “He said he needed to get rid of his dog because he was extremely aggressive.”

The dog had been kept in a narrow concrete passage and had a large open wound on his leg. Although warned about the dog’s aggression, the team knew they couldn’t leave him in that condition. They asked the man to take him to Valley Farm Animal Hospital, where the dog surprised everyone.

“He wasn’t aggressive at all,” she says. “He was the sweetest, most lovely-natured dog.”

A microchip revealed an incredible story: the dog’s original name was Tyson, and he had been missing for five years after being stolen as a puppy. The original owners were no longer able to take him back, and the details of his disappearance remained unclear.

At Valley Farm, veterinarians treated his wound with a skin graft, and Bodhi was eventually discharged into the rescue’s care. “He settled in beautifully,” she says. “He had a little couch and he was very happy.”

Soon, however, Bodhi’s health declined. X-rays revealed bone cancer. “We were devastated,” she says. “He was older, but we just wanted to give him a good life.”

Despite the heartbreak, Bodhi spent his final months surrounded by love, care, and attention. “He was happy,” she says. “He enjoyed the food and the attention. At least he had that.”

Stolen, lost, and then found—Bodhi’s journey remains a powerful reminder of why every dog deserves love, safety, and care.