Stephen Singhini with Fireman, the dog he hopes to be reunited with in Malawi after being forced to leave South Africa.
Image: Supplied
For six years, Fireman the Africanis has been more than just a pet. For Stephen Singhini, the dog has been his family, his companion and his source of comfort while living thousands of kilometres away from his wife and three children in Malawi.
Now, as rising tensions force some foreign nationals to leave Sea Vista in the Eastern Cape, volunteers from St Francis Animal Rescue are working to reunite Singhini with the dog he refused to abandon.
Susan Rae Fox, chairperson of St Francis Animal Rescue, told IOL the organisation first met Singhini six years ago when he arrived with a young Africanis puppy needing basic care.
“Volunteers from St Francis Animal Rescue first met Stephen Black Lion Singhini, six years ago, when he brought his Africanis pup to us to be vaccinated, dewormed and treated for fleas and ticks. Like many foreign nationals working in South Africa, Stephen's family, a wife and three children, remained at home in Malawi where the children were educated.”
“Stephen sent money home to Malawi every month, to pay the living expenses of his family. He named his puppy, Fireman, and because he had no other family in South Africa, this dog became his best friend and constant companion. We saw Stephen regularly during the first year of the pup's life, and provided assistance in the form of booster vaccinations, a lead and collar and blankets,” she said.
As Fireman grew older, volunteers saw Singhini less often at outreach programmes, but say he was always happy to wave from his bakkie, with Fireman sitting next to him.
Fox said the rescue organisation’s primary focus has been on the dogs and cats belonging to people forced to flee from the local township of Sea Vista.
“Stephen sent a heartfelt message to us saying he would rather die than leave Fireman behind. We know this sentiment to be true and so we told Stephen we would do everything possible to get Fireman to him in Malawi."
"Our plan, once Stephen leaves for Malawi, is to keep Fireman in private kennels until he can be flown to join his master. We have had Fireman vaccinated and microchipped, in accordance with the requirements to transport the dog to Malawi. He will be in quarantine for one month, before he can fly,” said Fox.
The organisation is now raising funds to fly Fireman from Port Elizabeth to Malawi.
“We are hoping to raise these funds by creating awareness of Stephen's plight, and the love he shares with his beloved Fireman,” said Fox.
IOL News