Can you open your heart and home to a Husky?

Husky Rescue South Africa (HRSA) is a non-profit, no-kill organisation run by a small group of people who share a passion for this beautiful yet constantly misunderstood breed - the Siberian Husky.

Siberian huskies are often chosen as a family pet based on their gorgeous blue eyes and fluffy coats. Many new owners know very little about this breed and as the puppy grows into an adolescent dog, owners are unable to understand and cope with their very specific requirements.

This sometimes results in callous abuse, neglect and owner abandonment, spurring the need for HRSA to establish a foster programme and Husky Haven.

When an abused, neglected or abandoned husky is found it is taken to a foster family for love, care and rehabilitation. When foster homes are full to capacity, dogs are placed at Husky Haven, a sanctuary in Chartwell North where potential owners can visit the huskies and husky cross-breeds by appointment.

Volunteers, including some from one of Gauteng’s largest dryland sledding club, spend time with the huskies to socialise them further so that adoption becomes a reality.

Despite the traumatic experiences that some of these dogs have had, most develop into loving family pets with big, energetic personalities.

“The festive season is a particularly difficult time for dogs. We’ve had cases where owners go away on holiday and leave their pets unattended or drop their pets off at a kennel and never return for them. Dogs that are able to jump their property gates and walls end up wondering the streets. As a result, rescue organisations like HRSA are full to capacity come January,” says Joanne van Niekerk from HRSA.

Before buying a puppy from a pet shop or breeder, HRSA urges members of the public to consider adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue organisation like Husky Haven.
Please visit www.huskyrescue.co.za to see a regional adoption list, or call Joanne van Niekerk who is situated at Husky Haven on 082-851-9576.

The team can also be contacted via e-mail:

Manuela Fritz: manuela@huskyrescue.co.za
Jasper van Jaarsveld: jasper@huskyrescue.co.za
Siobhan Kelly: zoola@mweb.co.za
Nikki Pretorius: nikkivdw@gmail.com
Tracey Venter: traceyventer@iburst.co.za

If you are not able to help with adopting a dog, any donation would be greatly appreciated. Husky Rescue is a registered NPO.

About Huskies:
- Huskies are high energy and need a lot of exercise.
- Huskies are not dogs that can be left alone outside to entertain themselves. They need the companionship of other dogs and humans. They’re pack animals.
- Lonely huskies howl!
- Huskies are great escape artists. They require a six-foot wall to keep them indoors and a double gate system so they cannot escape into the road.
- Most huskies are not good with cats, small dogs and birds.
- Huskies are not good guard dogs!
- Huskies are highly intelligent and respond well to positive reward based training, like Clicker Training.