Potch Luiperds Rugby Squad Joins Forces with PAWS to Recapture Runaway Blackie
- Karen Scheepers
- May 21
- 2 min read
In an unexpected turn of events during a community outreach visit, members of the Potch Luiperds Rugby team swapped the pitch for a high-stakes pursuit through the streets of Potchefstroom. What began as a philanthropic gesture at the PAWS Haven quickly evolved into a coordinated rescue mission to safely recover a young dog named Blackie.
An Unexpected Escape During Delivery
The day began with the Potch Luiperds rugby squad visiting PAWS Haven to volunteer their time walking the resident animals. The incident occurred during the delivery of a 6-to-7-month-old female puppy named Blackie. As she was being brought into the facility, the young dog managed to slip away and bolt.
Witnesses confirmed that the escape was a freak accident and not the fault of the PAWS staff or the rugby players. Recognizing the need for extra hands and speed, PAWS requested the rugby team's assistance in launching a recovery mission.
The Great Potch Pursuit: Tracking the Trail
The recovery effort quickly turned into a strategic operation. The rugby players, PAWS staff, and Pieter from The Go-To Guy, who was on-site to document the visit and participated in the chase, formed a vehicle convoy to track Blackie's movements.
Mapping of the incident shows that Blackie was initially located in an open field near the intersection of Paul Street and Suid Street, approximately one kilometer from the haven. As seen in the provided tracking image, once the puppy "took scent," she began a determined run, heading North-East across Suid Street and taking a direct path up Beyers Naude Avenue.
The Sighting: Everyone drove to the reported location where Blackie was spotted lying down, but she quickly took off again, leading the team on an extensive "mission" through the streets.
The Convoy: The pursuit involved multiple cars following the puppy's movements as she ran up and down several blocks.
The Capture: The situation was finally resolved when a vehicle positioned far ahead of Blackie's path managed to intercept her. The puppy was safely secured and loaded into the vehicle for the return trip.
Safe Return to the Haven
Following the successful capture, the convoy reconvened at the PAWS gates. While the day's events were more athletic than originally planned, the outcome was a relief for all involved. Captured video by Pieter shows the moment the vehicle carrying a safe and sound Blackie arrived back at the facility, where the rugby squad and staff were waiting.
"It was a team effort in the truest sense," noted observers on the scene. "Seeing the players use their coordination and speed to help a local animal in need showed a great deal of community spirit."
Although the intensity of the chase meant there were no photos captured of the intended walking sessions, the bond formed between the players and the PAWS team during the rescue highlights the strong relationship between the local sports heroes and the community's welfare organizations.
Photo Gallery (All image and video cedit: The Go-To Guy)
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