Rescued February 2026 · Maun, Botswana
As told by Foxy
My name is Foxy. And this is my story.
The Streets of Maun
My name is Foxy, and I was rescued — along with my six newborn pups — in Maun, Botswana, in February 2026. I am a small to medium-sized, golden-brown Africanis with remarkable resemblances to my ancient Tesem ancestors. These resemblances can be seen in my pointy ears, sharp nose, and incredible speed and agility. My most distinct marking is the white on my front left paw — it looks like I'm wearing a little white sock.
I used to roam vast areas of Maun, always on the move, searching for food. I was never part of a pack; I am a solitary Africanis. Being solitary meant I had to fend entirely for myself. As a solo wanderer, I didn't have a territory — I had a home range. I never picked a fight, because I had no territory to protect, so it was always safer to walk away from danger and find a new den when I had to. Being a solo Africanis meant I had to be resilient, street-smart, strategic, and fearless. Despite my small size, my fearless character earned me respect on the streets, and few bullies dared to mess with me. I am scared of nothing.
A Den by the River
My roaming came to an abrupt halt when I fell pregnant with a litter of six. I knew I had to find a safe place to give birth — somewhere near a food source, with enough cover to keep us hidden. I chose the Mall of Maun, a newly built shopping centre close to the banks of the Thamalakane River. The river offered my best chance at shelter, water, and the possibility of scavenging for food nearby.
The Birth of My Pups
I gave birth to six healthy pups and hid them in a burrow near the river. During the day, I would roam around the mall, hoping that humans might throw me scraps, or that I might find something near the rubbish bins, or pick up bones and food discarded around the fast-food drive-throughs. This tactic brought me more food than I had anticipated, and I was able to sustain myself — and keep my pups fed with milk.
My den also kept us safe during the evenings. Most street dogs roam at night around human settlements in search of food — that is the strategy most Africanis on the streets follow. I knew that a den near the river would be my safest shelter, away from the noise and competition of town.
When the Rains Came
Then, suddenly, my fate changed. The most severe rainy season Maun had seen in decades arrived without warning. The safety of my den was suddenly under severe threat, and I was uncertain how I would find another dry and safe shelter for my pups. It was during this uncertain time that my path crossed with the Oister Foundation.
The Oister Foundation
Stefanie from the Oister Foundation had come across me a few times at the mall and given me food. One day, she arrived at the mall with the Oister team and some friends visiting from South Africa. They gave me the bread from their shopping — fresh bread, straight from the bag. Humans had sometimes thrown me scraps or leftovers, but I had never experienced humans offering me food directly from their own shopping. The gesture even drew the attention of locals, some of whom began filming on their phones. Street dogs in Botswana don't often receive that kind of respect, so one act of kindness quickly became something worth watching. I enjoyed the bread and returned to my den to care for my pups, hoping I would see these humans again.
A few days later, Stefanie returned to the mall. The security guards — who had spotted me on their patrols — told her where my den was. This time, my fate changed forever. Before I knew it, I was being rescued, along with my pups, and taken to the Oister Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary
At the time, the Oister Foundation didn't have enough space at their facility for me and six pups, so I was temporarily housed in an outside room where I could care for my litter. I was fed well enough to keep producing milk, and I was cared for by Oister Foundation staff and two visitors from South Africa — a mother and daughter named Megan and Lexy. Lexy took such wonderful care of my pups, keeping them busy and entertained so I could finally get some rest. That was such a relief.
After a few days, I was moved to the Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS), just outside Maun, as a temporary base while the Oister Foundation searched for homes for my pups. During this time, my pups and I received full medical check-ups, and I was spayed. The humans at MAWS were kind, caring, and compassionate — and this experience helped rebuild the trust in humans that I had lost while living on the streets. Every person I had met since my rescue had shown only kindness, not just to me, but especially to my pups. That meant everything to me.
I was grateful for my time at MAWS. Even though I was in good physical condition, years of consuming dirty water and scavenged food had taken their toll — I had plenty of internal and external parasites to deal with. On the days the Oister Foundation came to visit, they would carefully remove the last remaining ticks from me and my pups. My pups had ticks deep inside their ears, and every single one was removed with patience and care. Such a relief.
Goodbye, My Pups
It didn't take long for the Oister Foundation to find loving homes for all six of my pups. Saying goodbye was hard — deeply hard — but I knew with absolute conviction that it was the best possible future for them. They would never have to face the neglect and danger that so many Africanis endure on the streets.
New Beginnings
After all my pups were adopted, the Oister Foundation brought me to their sanctuary. It took me a few days to settle in and find my place among the other dogs, but they accepted me quickly. We are all rescued here — that is something we all have in common. I also had to get used to the cats that share the sanctuary, which took a little longer. I was given a very clear ultimatum: bite the cats, and I'm out. There was absolutely no way I was giving up my new safe haven and my new friends — so I made peace with the cats, and I have never looked back. I am now fully integrated into the Oister Foundation pack, loved and treated as a companion, not a pest.
Foxy is now an ambassador for the Africanis™ brand and the Oister™ Foundation's mission to protect and preserve the Canis Africanis — Africa's aboriginal landrace dog. Every purchase from Africanis™ helps fund rescues like Foxy's.