Three puppies rescued from a storm drain in Johannesburg — then rescuers brought mum home too

Three puppies that fell into a stormwater drain in Johannesburg, South Africa, were rescued one by one after hours of careful work — and the rescue did not end there: the team then tracked down their mother, reuniting the family of four at the shelter.

Manhole cover stuck, rescuers worked through a small opening

After the emergency call, Midrand SPCA inspectors Jerry Seemise and Theo Mokgatle, together with kennel assistant Daniel Musuko, rushed to the scene. The team was unable to open the manhole cover and had to work through a very small opening to reach the frightened puppies, taking several hours to bring all three to safety.

Children watched — and learned

A group of curious children had gathered to watch the operation, giving Seemise the chance to explain the importance of animal welfare and the work of SPCA inspectors. The team then went a step further, tracking down the puppies' mother and bringing her into their care as well. The puppies and their mother are now safe.

(File photo: three puppies, for illustration.)