She couldn’t leave the animal alone, cold and scared.
Last fall, on a cold and rainy day in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, a woman was on her way home from work when she passed a quarry near an industrial town. The area was steep, rocky and not the kind of place where people usually stopped, so she was surprised to notice a cardboard box sitting there.
Then something moved inside it.
A small furry head appeared, and the woman realized there was an elderly pug curled up in the box, looking cold, wet and defeated.
The woman immediately took the dog home to get her out of the rain. Although she couldn’t keep the pug permanently, she wanted to make sure the little dog got help. She posted about the situation in a local animal welfare WhatsApp group, and that message eventually reached Pug Rescue South Africa.
Cheryl Gaw, the founder of Pug Rescue South Africa, quickly agreed to help. The only problem was distance — the rescue was about 11 hours away. While Gaw arranged the next steps, she asked a rescue partner closer to the area to collect the pug and take her to a veterinarian.
The dog, later named Betsie, was estimated to be around 14 years old. Vets discovered that she had a painful ear infection, a skin condition that required regular medicated baths and injections, and a tumor on her stomach.
After everything she had been through, Betsie needed time to rest and feel safe. She spent her first days after rescue with a foster family, where she slowly began to relax. At first, she did not want to be alone, but she was also unsure about fully trusting people.
With patience, kindness and the company of other foster dogs, Betsie gradually let her guard down. The frightened senior pug began showing her true personality — gentle, sweet and ready to be loved.
By early November, after a long car journey, Betsie arrived at Pug Rescue South Africa and came into Gaw’s care. There, she received a special diet, medicine, soothing baths and the comfort of being surrounded by other pugs.
Little by little, Betsie started to feel better. Her body began healing, and her confidence grew. The rescue described her as a dog who had been lifted from a box, wrapped in love and carried into the safe life she deserved.
In December, Betsie had surgery to remove the tumor from her stomach. She recovered bravely, spending her healing days resting and enjoying gentle wagon rides outside in the sunshine.
Now, Betsie lives permanently with Gaw as a beloved “retiree pug.” She has become stronger, happier and more confident in her new home. Her story has touched people around the world, inspiring donations to help cover her care.
Betsie even earned a special place on the front cover of Pug Rescue South Africa’s 2026 calendar.
After being abandoned in a cardboard box in the rain, Betsie now has everything she needs: safety, comfort, medical care and people who will never leave her behind again.