Latest news with #BackaBuddy
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- The Citizen
Beloved rescue dogs poisoned during house robbery
'I've lost my best friends and my ability to work,' said an inconsolable Kerlene Treunicht, speaking about her furry babies Red and Khaos, who were killed during a robbery at her home in Robertsham on May 23. Treunicht is receiving a lot of support from Fourways residents because that is where she runs her animal rescue organisation, Missing Pet Solutions. The organisation specialises in reuniting lost pets with their families through expert K9 searches. 'It's not just a job, it's a calling that my dogs Red and Khaos shared with me.' Also read: Become a puppy raiser for guide dogs On that fateful day, Treunicht said, 'Four armed men broke into my home and poisoned my beloved K9 partners, Red and Khaos, with sausage laced with illegal poison. They were sleeping peacefully inside, but managed to get out when the robbers forced their way in. They then found this sausage. Red died in his kennel. Khaos collapsed just outside hers.' She said the intruders stole laptops, cellphones, a PlayStation, a Nintendo Switch, jewellery, cash, and other valuable items. But her beloved dogs are a greater loss. 'They were more than dogs, they were heroes, and my family. They helped bring lost pets home, and now they're gone, taken in the most brutal, senseless way. Also read: Adopt a dog at Woodrock 'The silence and loneliness are excruciating. I don't want to get out of bed, because I'm waiting for them to wake me up, as they did every morning. I don't see a purpose anymore without my babies. Rest in perfect peace, my angels.' Treunicht added that she could not make sense of her loss, yet. 'But I promise you this. I will carry your legacy forward. I will keep helping the lost get found. I will do it with the same fire you gave me, with the same unstoppable drive you had every time we hit the ground.' In her dogs' honour, she has started a BackaBuddy fund to train new tracking dogs to continue the mission her fur babies lived for. Read more: Community Hour brings together dog lovers for socially responsible pet ownership 'It has been incredible. It's amazing how people stand together in times like this. The crime in this country is out of hand.' 'Thank you for helping me honour Red and Khaos in the only way I know how – by continuing their legacy.' The link to the campaign is: Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Eyewitness News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
Recovering addict runs from Cape Town to Comrades to raise funds for others battling addiction
This year, he's going even further. Van der Bergh is running from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg, nearly the full length of South Africa, before running the official Comrades race, which ends in Durban. His run will take 35 days, averaging about 47 km per day — roughly a marathon a day with no rest days. The longest day will be 77.5 km; the shortest one covers 16.8 km. He'll follow the N2 highway along the East Coast, stopping overnight in different towns. Van der Bergh hopes his journey will raise awareness and spark important conversations about addiction and recovery. By using the spotlight of the Comrades Marathon, Van der Bergh wants to inspire support from communities, organisations, and the government for those still battling addiction while raising funds 'for people who can't afford professional and compassionate treatment'. Van der Bergh is running to raise funds for the rehab centre that saved his life, Ramot Treatment Centre. If you'd like to make a donation and support this cause, click here for Van der Bergh's BackaBuddy campaign.
The Citizen
07-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Rescue puppies bring pawsitive energy to yoga event
People gathered at K9 Classroom on Saturday to take part in a Puppy Yoga event that was organised by two animal lovers, Bonine Cronje and Barbara Roux in collaboration with Place a Pup, a non-profit organisation that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes puppies. The event was serene and emotionally uplifting as participants rolled out their yoga mats in preparation. They were given wireless headphones through which they listened to the yoga instructor's directions and calming background music. The puppies ran around in excitement, stealing hearts and getting pats, pets, and hugs from the participants throughout the day. People were left feeling more relaxed, emotionally lighter, and deeply connected – not just to the animals, but to themselves and the community around them. To ensure the puppies' safety, volunteers from both Place a Pup and K9 Classroom monitored the pups throughout the session to ensure they were comfortable and free to explore at their own pace. According to Barbara, the feedback from participants was amazing. Many described the experience as soothing, unique, and joyful. Other guests even expressed interest in adopting a puppy, which is one of the event's most meaningful outcomes. 'Place a Pup was recently given a notice to vacate the premises they rent,' Barbara says. 'Our next goal is to help them raise funds for a permanent home through their BackaBuddy campaign.' For more information on how to support Place a Pup and their future events, contact Barbara on 066 245 2971 or Bonine on 071 528 0310. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
06-06-2025
- IOL News
How Kim White Towne's family is fighting to bring her home after her murder in the US
Kim White Towne's family is fighting to repatriate her remains after she was allegedly murdered in the US by her husband. They have launched a BackaBuddy campaign to cover the costs, with Lauren Delcarme writing on behalf of the family: 'The process of repatriating a loved one's remains is both complex and costly. Expenses possibly include cremation, documentation, and international transport. The estimated cost to bring Kim home ranges from $4 000 to $6 000.' Towne, 32, died on 25 May, with her husband Alexander Towne simply telling emergency services in a 911 that he doesn't think 'she's with us any longer.' Inside their home in West Virginia, authorities found the lifeless body of his wife, Kim. She had been strangled, while their toddler son was in another room. Kim, originally from Parklands, had visible upper body trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene. Delcarme wrote further as part of the campaign to repatriate her body: "We are reaching out to our community and beyond to ask for your support in raising the funds needed to reunite Kim with her family and homeland. Your generous contribution will go directly toward covering the costs of her repatriation and memorial in South Africa." At the time of writing, they have raised R102 134, about 95% of their R108 000 goal. Of the incident, Kim's brother Jason White says: 'Kim was in love. Then she found out she was pregnant. In Dubai, having a child outside of marriage is a big issue, so they got married in December 2021.' After the wedding, the couple relocated to South Africa, first settling in Milnerton before moving to Gordon's Bay. When their baby turned three-months old, Alex returned to the US to secure Kim's visa, which would allow her to move and join him there.
The South African
03-06-2025
- General
- The South African
BackaBuddy campaign launched to repatriate body of Cape Town woman murdered in US
A BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign has been launched to assist the family of Kim White Towne, a 32-year-old Capetonian who was murdered by her American husband in Chantilly in the state of Virginia. The campaign aims to raise funds for the repatriation of her remains to South Africa so that she can be laid to rest among her loved ones. Towne's tragic death, reportedly at the hands of her husband during a domestic dispute, has left her family devastated and facing a financially overwhelming situation. The campaign, organised by Lauren Delcarme, is titled 'Bring Kim Home' and, at the time of publishing, has already raised R88 404 of its R108 000 target. 'Kim was a vibrant and cherished member of our family whose warmth, kindness and gentle spirit touched everyone she met,' said Delcarme on the campaign page. 'Her sudden and untimely death has left us in profound grief, and we are faced with the heartbreaking task of bringing her home to South Africa.' Delcarme noted that the costs of repatriation are substantial and include cremation, legal documentation, and international transport, among other formalities. The family is appealing to the public for any contributions to help reunite Kim with her family in Cape Town. Kim White Towne, originally from the Blouberg area, had moved to the US to build a life with her husband, with whom she shared a young son. The BackaBuddy page has been flooded with messages of support and heartfelt condolences from friends, family, and even strangers moved by the family's plight. Those wishing to contribute can visit the official BackaBuddy campaign via and search for 'Bring Kim Home' or donate directly to the listed banking details on the campaign page. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
