Kindness is contagious. Inspired by a local bus driver's daily devotion, our community united to rescue a homeless dog family from the streets of Mauritius. Now safe from harm, Fifi—the resilient mother—is facing a battle with cancer. We need your help to fund her chemotherapy and the essential care her four puppies need to thrive. Every donation, no matter how small, keeps the ripple of hope moving forward.

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The Story of Resilience and Hope

In the world drowning in conflict it’s sometimes good to remember that alongside the storms also lives hope. And it is on each and everyone of us to keep it alive.

We are a Polish/Croatian couple living in a quiet neighbourhood in Mauritius, with a communal park nearby, where we go on a walk everyday. Some months back we noticed something really heartwarming taking place there: a humble bus driver, Satish, coming every single day at the same time to feed the stray dogs who found shelter in the park. Everyday, at 17:30, he comes and feeds all 14 of them. The dogs already recognise his honk from afar.

We’ve been personally deeply inspired by his selflessness and consistency. Everyday, regardless of the weather or the holiday (we saw him there on the days of Christmas and New Year’s Eve), he simply comes and shows up for those dogs abandoned by everyone else. Quietly, without any show or pretense. Simply helping them survive another day and doing his part to make this world a little better place.

His efforts didn’t go unnoticed. It didn’t take long for other animal lovers in the vicinity to get inspired. Suddenly, not just one person, but a community got involved. We started to bring the snacks for dogs everyday. Someone was quietly changing their drinking water. Somebody else cooked a meal. Someone brought some bowls. Small actions of love that made a difference for those whose lives have never been easy.

All it took was the consistency of one good-hearted person to inspire the community.

Few months ago one of the older dogs gave birth to four adorable puppies, which soon stole the hearts of the community with their sweet personalities and affectionate attitude. Their mother (called by many Fifi) is probably one of the most resilient and positive dogs we have ever seen. Even when her body was emaciated due to the pregnancy in her advanced years, she would run every single day towards us, wagging her tail, even when it was difficult for her.

The mother and her four adorable female puppies lived until now in the vicinity of the university, near the water stream, where they had easy access to water and shelter. We soon fallen in love with them and began to visit them everyday – not just to give them food, but to simply be with them and play with them.

Soon we realised we are not the only ones. So many other people began to visit them and feed them. And, we believe, many others were thinking the same thing: these sweet dogs who crave human presence deserve better than just to stay on the street. They deserve a real home. But how to help?

This was the question we were sitting with for a long time and could not find the answer for. We couldn’t adopt ourselves as our visa situation in Mauritius is at the moment uncertain and we travel way too much for work purposes to be able to take a consistent care of those babies. We had no idea what would be best way to help this dog family. But the inner feeling was clear: somehow we must find away to help. 

All the small pups were girls, too, and we knew all too well that once they go in heat their life won’t be easy on the streets. In the meantime, their mother, Fifi, started to develop something that looked like cancer.

First thing we tried to do was a small photo session with them and post about them on Facebook. It didn’t bring immediate results. But one day later we saw an advert about a free sterilisation event for stray dogs organised by one of the NGOs in Mauritius (Well-being of Strays). We contacted them and they immediately connected us with Christopher, who helps with transportation of strays. We felt hopeful again. Although we knew that sterilising them and then immediately releasing them back into the wild is not an ideal solution, it felt like at least a small step towards improving their lives.

But the situation took unexpected turn. On the day when their transport was scheduled we received a WhatsApp message from another animal lover, Stephanie, who also took care of this sweet dog family for last months and who saw our post on Facebook. She told us that on that very morning the university decided to “get rid” of these dogs. Luckily, their attempts to capture them failed. But the poor dogs became traumatised – exactly on the day when the transport was organised for them for sterilisation. We didn’t see that coming. But we decided to try and get them to the vet anyways.

When we came there, near the water stream, to wait for the pet taxi, Stephanie was already there, together with her daughter, playing with the dogs, who looked hopeful and trusting again. Together we tried to think of a solution to keep this lovely dog family off the streets, so that no one will ever try to harm them again. But the way ahead wasn’t clear.

Soon after, Christopher came with his transport for dogs. We talked a little and acquainted the dogs with him, and soon after the efforts to bring them into the transport began. But what happened next was incredible to behold.

Minutes after Christopher arrived, a couple parked their car nearby, who apparently was feeding those pups as well. Perhaps some 10 minutes later, Satish, a bus driver who feeds all the 14 stray dogs in the vicinity every day, also parked his bus nearby. Soon some students came who also cared for those little pups. A little later, Anwar, who works in the university and takes care of some of these dogs, also appeared. Soon there was a little crowd gathered who showed up for Fifi and her pups. And although it didn’t make the process of capturing them easier, it was absolutely heartwarming to see how much this sweet dog family meant to so many people. Everyone from this little crowd was caring for them and feeding them unknown to others. Some wanted to chip in for their treatment. Everyone was there to simply make sure that they are fine and no harm is happening to them.

Then the process of capturing the family began. It wasn’t easy, as they were already traumatised by morning attempts. But with the involvement of everyone from the community it became possible. Fifi and one of her sweetest pups, Joy, were the easiest to bring to the car. Other pups went into hiding into the rocks. Initially it felt impossible to get them out of there – but the impossible became possible. Everyone gathered helped to move heavy rocks to get the puppies rescued and bring them into the car. The whole procedure took more than 3 hours and was done mainly by volunteers.

Christopher then asked us, what’s next. He explained that Fifi most likely has cancer and will require chemotherapy and foster care. We didn’t have any plans or experience with dealing with situations like this. He said he will try to make a few phone calls, but cannot promise anything.

The next day we received the good news. Christopher said he can foster the mother and he pups in his shelter - which for many of us here felt like the biggest relief. They were finally safe. 

Fifi’s chemotherapy is about to begin soon. But we all believe in her: because we have seen how strong and resilient she is.

During the next week we will be actively searching for forever homes for all of them – because they truly deserve it. Because they are probably some of the most positive and resilient stray dogs we have ever seen. Because they still believe in humans.

In the meantime, we are looking for any financial support to help cover the costs of their foster care, vaccination, deworming, and also chemotherapy treatment for their mother. If you feel inspired by their story and the story of their community who came together to help them, please help us keep the hope alive for them. Even a small contribution goes a long way.

Remember, it all began with one good deed of a selfless man. We never know what will be the ripple effect of the good that we do today.

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The Costs Involved:

Foster Care for the Fifi for 31 days: 9300 MRU (175 euro)

Foster Care for Joy, Happy, Hope and Goofy: 24900 MRU (465 euro)

Chemotherapy for Fifi (with transport fees): 20000 MRU (370 euro)

Two crates to allow them to travel to France: 15000 MRU (275 euro)

Any extra funds received will be used for deworming and vaccination of the whole family, as well as to get toys, blankets and other necessities for Fifi and her children, or to cover for extra days of their stay in shelter if needed.

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How Else Can You Help?

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