Every dog deserves a safe place, proper care, and a chance to live a happy life. Sadly, many animals don't get any of those things without a little help.
Sidewalk Specials is a South African animal welfare organization working mainly in the township of De Doorns. The organization provides free veterinary care, runs sterilization programs, helps families with food, and works with local communities to improve the lives of animals and the people caring for them.
The before-and-after photos Sidewalk Specials shares show how much can change when a dog finally gets the care it needs. Dogs once frightened, malnourished, injured, or sick appear months later healthier, happier, and sometimes almost unrecognizable.
Scroll down to see some remarkable transformations shared by the organization, along with the stories behind these dogs' second chances.
More info: Instagram | sidewalkspecials.org
#1 Groot
Here’s Groot checking in from his forever home, with his kitty friend and questionable table manners, to say thank you for helping those who can’t help themselves - may you be blessed!
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44points
And then there are the changes you can see immediately in the photos.
Dogs who once looked scared or exhausted are suddenly sitting comfortably on couches, cuddling with people, or simply looking relaxed. Thin bodies become healthy again, wounds heal, and animals that once seemed unsure of people begin to trust them.
Of course, not every transformation is only about a dog's appearance. Sometimes the biggest change is much simpler: an animal that once looked frightened finally looks safe.
#2 Eggy
Sidewalk Specials run weekly outreaches in the De Doorns township of South Africa – our goal? Finding those that need us most!
Eggy was one such find – she’d been through hell, watched her yard mate die, and was now completely dependent on the kindness of strangers for her survival.
Luckily for Eggy, those strangers in question were you wonderful folk.
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36points
#3 Duckie
“She has no one…”
Turns out Duckie actually had a whole village in her corner – thanks to our amazing supporters!
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36points
#4 Bonzo
Bonzo was surrendered in De Doorns by his owner, in order to be given the best chance of survival.
Considering his range of ailments - anemia, malnutrition, parvovirus, tick bite fever, sarcoptic mange, chemical burns to his eyes - it was miraculous Bonzo was even alive.
We asked you guys to help us cover Bonzo’s vet bill and to share his story to find him a forever home...you stepped up and just look at him living his best life now... It really does take a village!
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34points
#5 Panda
Panda was surrendered in De Doorns’ Gigi Camp. A kind lady explained that Panda, being unwanted, had been handed out along with the rest of her litter to kids as they passed.
Sickly and starving, Panda had not stopped crying for days. Knowing she didn’t have the resources necessary to help Panda, the lady flagged down the @sidewalkspecials team to intervene.
Panda was diagnosed with Biliary, malnutrition and had one of the highest worm counts we’d ever seen.
We asked you guys to help Panda… a foster stepped up, you guys covered her vet bills, sharing her story till her forever human saw her… and here she is checking in to say a huge thank you!
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28points
#6 Whitney
Whitey was brought to the very first ‘Steri Drive’ Sidewalk Specials held in De Doorns over eight years ago!
We remember that her mom was a whole day late to pick her (and China) up, and we ended up having a mangy little sleepover with them at our accommodation.
When their mom finally arrived to collect them, we asked (with great annoyance) why she was a whole day late?
Turned out mom had walked Whitey and China to us, with where we were situated back then this would have easily been a three hour walk, and in order to collect them had had to ask her unsympathetic boss for a second day off work (ask in person mind, as back then she did not own a phone), then walk over three hours once again to arrive with us.
Safe to say we ate humble pie, checked our privilege, drove them all home and implemented a pick and drop off system for each dog at our next clinic.
When people say township owners don’t care about their dogs - they, like Sidewalk Specials of 2017- know absolutely nothing of the challenges township owners face!
It’s been a privilege to walk alongside Whitey, China and their mommy for the last eight years and we hope to have many more!
Thank you, our supporters, for choosing helping over judging and reuniting Whitey with her family!
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27points
#7 Tiger
When Tiger’s family were offered him - a sick puppy with very little hope of surviving in the harsh township environment - they took him in immediately and messaged Sidewalk Specials for help!
Thanks to our awesome supporters we were able to get Tiger the urgent vet care he needed and just look at him now - a shining example of good pet ownership in the township!
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26points
#8 Lexi
Huge thanks to our supporters for saving Lexi’s life, thanks to you she’s thriving - as are all her doggy friends who, after their owners saw her glow up, got to come to Sidewalk Steri Clinic too!
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26points
#9 Moose
Sidewalk Specials have the world’s most wonderful supporters - when a dog has no one else in their corner, our supporters step up and make miracles happen!
Here’s Moose checking in from his forever home to say thank you!
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25points
#10 Dottie
Injured, old dog living her best life thanks to you guys.
Safe to say we couldn’t be happier for Dottie and oh so grateful that her mommy continues to give her everything she needs to live a full, happy, treat filled life.
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24points
#11 Boba
Boba’s family had fallen on hard times, his dad had suffered a stroke, leaving him unable to work.
Boba’s gate had been left open, he’d escaped and been hit by a car.
Private vet care simply wasn’t accessible for his family.
That feeling of helplessness, when your pet is hurting and you can’t fix it, was written across his Dad’s face.
We asked you guys to help us bring a bit of light into this dark situation - and you did - Boba’s entire vet bill was covered!
Now he’s healed up, sterilised and thriving at home with his delighted family!
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24points
#12 Blessing
When you’re carrying an old, well loved, tubby little dog away from an owner crying snot en trane (snot and tears)…
When you see the ‘do it yourself’ bandage job a family with little to no resources has assembled...well, you kind of crumble a little…
Happily our supporters’ hearts crumbled alongside ours, and Blessing got the chance to go home!
Thank you to our supporters for always helping not judging - you make this world a kinder place!
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24points
#13 Keta
Just Keta popping in to say a big, huge thank you – just look at the difference in her now she's home!
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22points
#14 Simba
The worlds a pretty dark place right now, it’s more important than ever to spread kindness where you can!
You see kindness allows space for little miracles to happen...
Miracles like Simba: whose owners thought he was paralysed for good and who had no hope of affording his vet care, now getting to watch him do zoomies round their yard, all thanks to the kindness of strangers (you guys) covering his vet bills!
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22points
#15 Max
Max’s owners called Sidewalk Specials in a panic. A scorpion had stung their two dogs; one didn’t make it. Max was still fighting for his life and in excruciating pain...
We asked you guys to donate towards his life-saving antivenom; you did, and just look how happy he is to be reunited with his family - you guys are so awesome!
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22points
#16 Lexi
Lexi’s owner called us in a state, Lexi had gotten into a fight and come home worse for wear.
Lexi wasn’t going to survive without private veterinary care, and that simply wasn’t affordable on a farm workers wage.
So we asked you guys to help...and help you did!
Here’s Lexi checking in to say thank you for getting her safely back to her family!
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21points
#17 Gertie
Bronty’s now known as Gertie - Gertie the Goat, to be exact!
She’s a favourite at the dog park, has a best friend called Molly and a vague obsession with a Schnauzer called Mable!
Thanks to your support, she’s out of survival mode, knows she’s safe and loved and is enjoying everything that life has to offer!
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21points
#18 Brusty
Brusty took a tumble playing with his big brothers and broke his little leg.
His owner reached out for help, we knew the family, kind and responsible- Brusty and his brothers had all been walked to our Steri Clinic previously!
We asked you guys to ‘help and not judge’ and you did just that - Brusty’s vet bills were covered and here he is, happily reunited with his eternally grateful family!
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20points
#19 Billy
Billy was brought to last November’s Sidewalk Steri Clinic, his owner having returned home from work to find him wounded, most likely from a knife to his throat...what a world.
We asked you guys if you could help Billy’s distraught family get him the vet care he so desperately needed, you guys stepped up, and here Billy is to say a huge thank you!
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19points
#20 Chuckie
With all the dark stories out there, we thought we’d share Chuckie’s journey as a reminder that humans aren’t all bad and sometimes life has a way of working out just perfectly!
You guys have helped Chuckie throughout his life, sponsoring his sterilisation in 2018, helping his family afford vet care when his paw was run over in 2019, covering his vaccination in De Doorns’ distemper outbreak in 2021 and supporting our outreach program who’ve administered his arthritis medication for the last year...
When the time came that his owner could no longer give Chuckie what he needed, she, in turn, trusted Sidewalk Specials to take Chuckie to a safer, softer life, a life that his old body could handle!
This is humanity at its finest, people working together to make the world a kinder place - safe to say Chuckie is beyond grateful, if somewhat oblivious
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18points
