Dog Box Challenge Tenth Anniversary a Tail-Wagging Success

Photo Credit: Cameron Lategan; Cal Media

Years ago, an idea to spend 24 hours in a kennel with hopes of raising funds changed the fate of the Kloof and Highway SPCA for the better. Ten years on, the team celebrated their 10th Dog Box Challenge—which also happened to be a tail-wagging success!

Kloof, South Africa (12 June 2024) — Who knew being put in the ‘dog box’ could be such a life-changing thing? Taking a wholesome spin on something usually associated with being in the thick of trouble, the Kloof and Highway SPCA have turned the term into an opportunity to change multiple animals’ lives, and they’ve been at it for a whole decade.

10 years ago, the very first Dog Box Challenge was held, where the aim was to have 24 people spend 24 hours overnight in (the then) half-build socialisation kennels. At the time, their goal was to raise enough to complete the building process and if enough support was in their favour, offer more animals shelter.

Well, many years have passed and the Dog Box Challenge has done a lot more than build a few kennels!

Thanks to incredible support, people who have voluntarily been “locked up” for the cause have made a wealth of difference in the lives of animals.

From making sterilisations and treatments possible, to helping fund court matters prosecuting animal cruelty, supporting outreach clinics and, of course, making caring for the animals much easier, it has become a time on the calendar that the Kloof and Highway SPCA team know they can count on for all the heart-driven work they undertake.

“Over the last 10 years the Dog Box has grown exponentially and become an annual fundraiser that is loved by many, taken part by many and supported by thousands of people over the past decade!” the SPCA shares.

This year marked the Challenge’s 10th anniversary at the end of May. Much to the animal heroes’ delight, it was a tail-wagging success of an occasion that raised a whopping R 312,795.04!

“What we see when we look back over 10 years is successful teamwork with passion and empathy and lastly, when we look back, we see our supporters who have been with us since day one,” the team add.

The fantastic news comes a little after Kloof and Highway SPCA Operations Manager Sarah Van Heerden cycled her heart out over 7 days and raised her own small fortune for the people and paws she works with daily. You can read all about Sarah’s cycle here.