URGENT RESCUE APPEAL
ISSUE#04
December 2025
YOUR cHRISTMAS GIFT CAN CHANGE AN ANIMAL'S LIFE
Trusted. Transparent. Animal-first giving.
Visit SUPPORT and find our how to donate or support through a legacy gift.
Thank you for standing by those who cannot speak for themselves.
ANIMAL RESCUE THAT TRULY MAKES A DIFFERENCE
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A heartfelt thank you from the team to everyone who donated this year
– whether blankets, newspapers, financial support, or your time.
We couldn’t do this without you.
STAND BY ME ANIMAL CARE
What We Do
We ensure your donations are used responsibly, effectively, and transparently. Our work includes:
• Investing funds for long-term sustainability
• Identifying and supporting reputable animal welfare organisations
• Conducting thorough due diligence to verify ethical, mission-driven operations
Who We Are
Founded by Leonie Lategan, a Certified Financial Planner® and passionate animal lover, Stand By Me Animal Care bridges the gap between generous donors and deserving animal organisations.
Make a meaningful gift in someone’s name to improve the lives of animals
Lean, efficient operations with minimal overheads
Building long-term impact to support animal welfare for generations
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: Bella’s Guardian Angels
Newspapers Needed & Cattery Reopened
Bella’s Guardian Angels’ nursery is now full of adorable kittens and puppies, and their cattery has officially reopened! Exciting Christmas preparations are also underway, making it a festive time at the shelter. They’re in need of one simple but essential item: NEWSPAPERS, for bedding and litter training.
If you have some to spare, please drop them off at:
1 Essenhout Street, Stellenberg
6 Skool Street, Kuilsriver
35 Suikerbekkie W Street, Joostenberg Vlakte (Bella’s Guardian Angels premises)
Please clearly label all newspapers as intended for Bella’s Guardian Angels. Every contribution helps make their cattery a safe, warm home for kittens and puppies in need!
Meet Elle and Her Kitten, Romy, consider adopting a bonded pair
At Stand By Me Animal Care, we love supporting organisations that give animals a second chance, and recently, we had the joy of sponsoring a litter of kittens at Bella’s Guardian Angels.
Mom Elle and her three kittens, Romy, Reggie, and Raya, have been looking for their forever homes. We’re thrilled to share that kittens Reggie and Raya have been adopted, leaving Mom Elle and Romy still waiting for their special families.
Elle and Romy are a bonded pair, and we’re encouraging their adopters to consider giving them a home together. By adopting both, you’ll be keeping their special connection intact and giving them the loving, secure home they deserve.
If you’re interested in welcoming Elle and Romy into your life, please reach out to Bella’s Guardian Angels today.
Every adoption changes lives, both for the animals
and the people lucky enough to love them.
STORIES OF IMPACT:
A First-Hand Visit & Pregnant Mares Rescue
At Stand By Me, we’re proud to continue supporting the Karoo Donkey Sanctuary, a place where donkeys and other vulnerable farm animals find safety, care, and a second chance at life.
In October 2025, we had the privilege of visiting their new 500-hectare home in De Rust. What we found was truly inspiring: a peaceful, nurturing environment where animals recover from hardship and enjoy freedom and safety. From the intensive-care area, where elderly or fragile animals are carefully tended, to the open fields where donkeys and horses roam, every animal receives personalised care from Owen and his dedicated team.
The sanctuary’s dedication has been recognised internationally, highlighting the incredible work they do to rescue, rehabilitate, and protect animals in need.
We’re proud of the impact we’ve made so far, but the sanctuary still relies on support to continue its vital work. Every donation counts. Visit www.stand-by-me.co.za and reference “Karoo Donkey Sanctuary” to contribute directly to the care of these incredible animals.
Together, we can keep giving them the second chance they deserve.
Sanctuary Accomplishments
The sanctuary continues its mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and protect donkeys and other animals—despite experiencing ongoing financial pressure due to the high cost of proper care.
Stand By Me Animal Care has entered into a formal agreement with the sanctuary to support the responsible rescue of animals in distress and to provide ongoing financial assistance for the care of their extensive animal population. 10 Mares were saved and transported from Eastern Cape to the sacutuary. Every rescued animal is treated by qualified veterinarians and is gelded, neutered or spayed to ensure ethical population management and long-term welfare.
Please visit our website at www.stand-by-me.co.za for further details and directions on How to donate.
International Verification
The Karoo Donkey Sanctuary is verified by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), confirming its status as a legitimate sanctuary that upholds strict global standards for animal welfare and management.
Rescue and Rehabilitation
The sanctuary has rescued hundreds of donkeys and horses from auctions, abusive situations, and from being sold into the skin trade.
Committed Animal Welfare
Each animal receives rehabilitation, daily care, and a peaceful environment designed to restore trust, health, and wellbeing.
WHAT WE DO
We help donors and legators ensure that their contributions are used responsibly, effectively, and transparently.
Our work includes:• Collecting donations and legacy payments.
• Investing these funds responsibly to ensure long-term sustainability.
• Identifying deserving, reputable animal welfare organisations.
• Conducting thorough due diligence to verify that these organisations operate ethically, transparently, and in line with their stated mission.
• Establishing formal agreements and making regular, reliable payments to approved organisations to support their ongoing work.
• As a result, Stand By Me Animal Care was registered in 2021.
WHO WE ARE
Stand By Me Animal Care was founded in response to concerns raised by potential legators—people who wanted to leave substantial funds to animal causes but feared that some organisations might lack the financial expertise to manage large sums responsibly.
Our founder, Leonie Lategan, is a Certified Financial Planner® with over 35 years of experience in professional money management. She is also a passionate animal lover who, together with several concerned clients, recognised the need for an intermediary organisation that could bridge the gap between generous donors and deserving rescue organisations.
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