Newsletter September 2025
It’s our Heritage! Let’s share more than just a braai.
On 24 September, as South Africans gathered around the fire, we extended that warmth to animals in need. Now we can fill more bowls and change lives.
Together with Bella’s Guardian Angels, we recently collaborated on a special Braai Day Giveaway, a fun way to celebrate in style with prizes for both you and your furry friend.
We’re excited to share that the winner has been announced and contacted. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who entered, supported, and donated. It’s because of you that we can continue to stand by incredible causes like Bella’s Guardian Angels.
Stay tuned for more exciting giveaways and updates by following us on Instagram and visiting our website. You never know, you could be our next winner! Missed out? No worries, you can donate here:
IN THIS NEWSLETTER
Heritage Day Promotion
Karoo Donkey Sanctuary
Stories of Impact:
Litter of the Month
Celebrate Together
Staff Profile Highlight
Story Time: "Old Whiskers"
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STORIES OF IMPACT: Litter of the Month Update
Oslo, Odette and Obi have all gone to loving forever homes and are thriving in their new lives. For those who would like to get involved there are Volunteer days – every Thursday, kindly reach out to Nicola through Bella’s Guardian Angels so that she can schedule you in. The rescue is also always in need of newspapers for daily care. And for something a little different, their Birthday Program offers a wonderful way to give a meaningful gift by sponsoring a puppy for a month in someone’s name. The sanctuary will even create a special post from the dog to celebrate the occasion.
STAFF PROFILE Lydia Lategan (COO)
Our COO brings both a caring heart and strong organizational skills to Stand By Me. Her journey has always been shaped by compassion. Volunteering at an orphanage in Swaziland, working as a care worker in the UK, spending time as an au pair, and rescuing animals in need.
Alongside this, Lydia built a career as a retail planner, developing the strategic and planning expertise she now uses to keep Stand By Me’s operations running smoothly.
In her role as COO, Lydia works with Founder Leonie and CFO Michael to ensure that every donation supports charities that are trustworthy, transparent, and impactful, helping to create lasting change.
Lydia shares. “Whether it’s people, children, or animals, I believe compassion should always lead the way.”
THE STORY OF "OLD WHISKERS"
Long ago, in a small village, there lived an old stray cat with fur matted from years of hardship. The villagers called him Old Whiskers. He had wandered the dusty streets for as long as anyone could remember — thin, ragged, and cautious of people.
Children would sometimes toss him scraps, but mostly he lived off what he could scavenge. On cold nights, Old Whiskers curled beneath wooden steps, keeping out of sight, surviving but never truly living.
One day, during a heavy rainstorm, a young girl named Thandi found him shivering under a broken cart. She bent down and whispered, “No one should be alone in the storm.” She lifted him gently, though he struggled at first, and carried him home wrapped in her shawl.
At first, Old Whiskers distrusted the food and warmth, but slowly, he began to purr. Weeks passed, and the ragged cat transformed — his coat grew sleek, his eyes brightened, and he followed Thandi everywhere. The villagers were astonished: the ghostly stray had become a proud, gentle companion.
From then on, Old Whiskers was no longer just a street cat. He was a symbol in the village: that kindness, even to the smallest and most forgotten, could change a life.
