Ariella & Zoë
Rescued Together
Ariella & Zoë were rescued in September 2024 following a desperate Facebook plea from their Trusted Guardian Sean who had lost his wife to Cancer 4 months prior.
Having to down-size with no pets allowed, he was no longer able to look after them and knowing how difficult it is to place two large dogs in an impossible timescale, I knew I had to reach out.
Sean had resigned himself to euthanising them both by the end of that week as he had to move, a traumatic and unnecessary act that stems from fear and not faith, resulting in irreversible regret.
I explained that I would put them into boarding and that in time, a perfect forever home would be found, and whilst this has taken me longer than expected, I know that God's timing is always right.
Ariella & Zoë had a sad rescue story in the beginning, but thankfully, they landed in good hands and please God, will only ever experience love.
Rescued From Certain Death
Zoë, at the time of my rescue, was a 4 year old Staffi mix originally rescued by a construction worker when she was a young pup of only 8 weeks, who heard a sad whelping and yelping noise.
In following her voice to investigate, he found 2 men sitting around a fire, having put barbed wire around her neck and tied her to a pole.
When asked what was going on, they told him they were going to eat her, at which point he reached into his pocket, gave them R200 and told them he was taking the dog.
Unable to keep her as he had 6 dogs already, Sean's daughter offered and Zoë became sister and companion to Ariella, an 8 year old Shar Pei cross.
Ariella's story is thankfully not so tragic as she was rescued from a farm worker who couldn't afford to feed a litter of pups and she became the family's first dog.
The Perfect Home
Neither Ariella nor Zoë are cat friendly, Ariella is an avid hunter of anything that moves and they have never been socialised with other dogs, but could be given the chance.
Having lost their human Mum so unexpectedly, they need a loving and stable home, either separately or together and are both sterilised.
Zoë needs additional support as she suffers from separation anxiety as a result of her trauma, but she's extremely loving and has been an absolute joy and blessing.
This is a really sad case that needs a happy ending and for Zoë and Ariella to begin a new adventure as they heal from the loss of their family that they loved so much, who loved them in return.
If you feel a connection to either Ariella or Zoë, or both, please get in touch to explore further and if you can contribute in any way to their expenses, this would be greatly appreciated.
Funding Angel(s) Needed
Ariella & Zoë are currently in boarding together in a large space where they can run and play, and have been since they were rescued.
This costs R1,500 per dog plus flea and tick plus worming plus any vet bills, and Zoë recently had to have a very large tumour removed costing R5,999.37.
In total, since the day they were rescued, their cost to the end August 2025 is in excess of R40,000, and as a one-woman band, this is a huge amount that I am unable to manage alone.
I have funded Ariella & Zoë in entirety and have sunk my life savings and monthly allowance into rescuing dogs and supporting a colony of cats who had no-one else but me.
It's important that we come together in our hour of need and we really need to raise the bar, getting uncomfortable if necessary, for the sake of helping those who cross our path.
Friends We Didn't Know We Had
When helping Sean, and also his late wife Carla, I imagined how I would feel if I was no longer here and someone else had my dogs lives in their hands, and I couldn't not help.
So many people look away, not realising that sometimes, we are the someone who is sent and called, and it's so wonderful to be able to give such a profound blessing.
It is my belief and experience, having done this for 8 years, that every time we step out in faith, we have friends we didn't know we had and the testimonies I have gathered are phenomenal.
When people are in deep grief, fear and desperation, it's impossible to think straight and our mind goes to crazy places as the devil gets a foothold through our vulnerability.
These are the times when we most need help, when strangers meld together to make a difference, uplifting humanity one single act of kindness at a time.
An Invitation
I invite you to be part of Ariella & Zoë story, with such a back log of costs, it's very challenging to manage and the responsibility every month has been hard.
I rescue and re-home animals in faith, and God always makes a way where there is none, but He does this through people.
If Ariella & Zoë's story has touched you, please help in any way you can, whether a one-off or monthly contribution towards the backlog or ongoing costs or offering a foster or forever home.
Let us see beyond our own selves, let us reach out in kindness and let us be the change we want to see in the world.
Please join my Lighthouse Family as we make a profound difference in the lives of so many together, one dog and one heart at a time.
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And if you feel called to donate to Amanda's Ark, to Ariella & Zoë specifically, you can do so on the link below.
Every penny donated goes to the animals we rescue whose lives we profoundly touch, who touch us in return, and facilitates a labour of love that transcends words.
We are privileged and honoured to serve and we invite you to join our Lighthouse Family, that we may continue to shine brightly, lighting the way for others.
