We are raising funds for helping these intelligent animals to become a service dog, and in the same time you are also helping fellow humans, which makes this drive a unanimously good cause; and the most natural next step.

Havana is part of our team, and Honey’s Garden is part of hers.

Havana: Woof, I am Havana, a greyhound, and I am in training to soon help people with diabetes (type 1) notice and thus treat especially low blood sugar levels as early as possible.

My big family of seven siblings and I were rescued from a township in Cape Town, South Africa. One of my sisters and I were then taken in by Honey’s Garden, the first NGO in South Africa to train medical service dogs, and one that has done so for years. Our NGO grants special attention to street dogs, who are given a second chance. My sister and I had the innocent dog look even then :-). My canine friends in training and I live with foster families who support us and with professional trainers who help us daily through our journey of learning what to do, when, and how. While I specifically have to use my sense of smell to detect when my person’s scent changes e.g. due to low blood sugar levels, other dog friends of mine focus more on learning how to move objects and how to bring them to their person and so on. Did you know that any breed can become a service dog? It does not have to be a purebred Labrador. After completing the training, we are placed in homes within South Africa as well as abroad. It takes me about 2 years to finish my training – then I have to pass a final exam before I can start my real work. Where I will go, I do not yet know. When it comes to our trainers’ work, training locations, material, toys, food, and veterinary costs, Honey’s Garden needs financial support and always appreciates a helping hand.
At MSS I am already allowed to come to the office from time to time to learn early enough how to behave in everyday human situations. Quite boring that they sit on their chairs every day and stare at a box? But at least I get their attention instantly when I go to greet everyone at their desks.

Woof woof! Whoever can support Honey’s Garden in my name, donate here. Every little bit helps so I can continue to receive support until the end of my training. Many thanks and who knows – you have a need for me? Maybe our paths will cross and I can help you in the future.

Why do we at MSS Kapstadt choose to support this cause?

Over the course of 2022, we watched our colleague’s journey fostering Havana, and her commitment to how much time, money, work and love goes into training such a dog.

The entire team has become quite fond of Havana, and of course Havana is just one great example of many other dogs like her, tasked with the commendable responsibility of improving a person’s life. We would like to give these dogs the best possible chance at succeeding in this intensive 2-year training period, and help them enjoy the journey all along. By helping these intelligent animals, we are also helping fellow humans, which makes this drive a unanimously good cause; and the most natural next step.

Havana is part of our team, and Honey’s Garden is part of hers.