Healthy Hound Missing Pet Search & Rescue

Home
South Africa
Johannesburg
Healthy Hound Missing Pet Search & Rescue

We are the original South African missing pet specialists! First in SA with dogs and handlers who undergo strict and regular training.

We have a team of highly trained handlers with awesome highly trained search K9s Healthy Hound is the original, most successful and most experienced missing pet unit in Africa. We have a team of dogs that are experienced in tracking dogs, cats, wildlife and more! Although based in Gauteng we have traveled to other provinces and have even had a callout to the Karoo as well as a callout to search for a dog on Table Mountain! But, it’s not all about our K9 partners. At Healthy Hound, we have an amazing team who are there to help and guide you from the minute your pet has been found and we will not abandon you until your pet is found. We have been involved with the searching and rescue of some high profile dog and cat searches and have been in local and National news many times. But, it’s not all about the news making searches! Our little team started in August 2020 when K9 Zizou had a career change at 1yr old from anti poaching to missing pet search. From the beginning, she has excelled as a search dog, even in difficult circumstances. Subsequently we have trained up a bunch of other dogs and strive for continuous training for handlers and dogs alike. We do not rely on just one dog and will pick the right dog for the job. And we use other search methods too if they are needed. We like to take a holistic approach to searching. We also do not just search! We also perform rescues (including technical rescue) and do regular work in communities such as our snare walks and other initiatives. We have done some dramatic rescues and some amazing investigations which have resulted in great success. With a success rate that is comfortably over 85% and the fact that we also do rescues, it is the logical choice to contact us when a pet goes missing.

14/09/2026

🐾 SHE WAS CLOSER THAN THEY THOUGHT! 🐱❤️

Another Healthy Hound happy ending! 🏡

Sometimes, the biggest searches end with the smallest distance between a missing pet and home. 🥹❤️

When Cupcake went missing from her home in Parkwood, her family was understandably worried. Their much-loved kitty was missing, and they needed help bringing her home.

That’s where Healthy Hound came in. Our superstar Bandit got to work, and his tracking took him around the corner. We mapped his search, giving us valuable information to work with as we tried to piece together Cupcake’s whereabouts.

But we wanted to be even more certain. So, we brought out Axl on the same day. ❤️ Axl was given the opportunity to work the case too, helping us gather additional information and narrow down the possibilities.

Two dogs, one missing kitty, and a family desperately hoping for good news. 🐾

We worked alongside Cupcake’s family, guiding them through the next steps and encouraging them to keep the faith.

Then came the rain. 🌧️

But even the weather couldn’t dampen the hope that Cupcake would make her way home. And on 8 September, the message we had all been waiting for arrived…

🎉 CUPCAKE WAS FOUND SAFE AND SOUND! 🎉

And the best part? She was found around a corner along the route we had been working on! 🥹❤️

After all the worry, searching, and waiting, this beautiful girl was finally back where she belonged.

A massive thank you to Cupcake’s family for trusting Healthy Hound, following our guidance, and never giving up on their girl.

And to Bandit and Axl… another job well done! 🐕‍🦺🐕‍🦺❤️

Another missing pet reunited with their family. Another reminder that sometimes, home is closer than you think.

🐾 Healthy Hound Missing Pet Search & Rescue
🌐 www.healthyhound.co.za
📞 083 505 9673

Please LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE to help us reach more families who need us. ❤️

fans

11/09/2026

9/11. A day that shaped my path. 🇺🇸

There are two moments in my life when I knew I wanted to work in Search & Rescue:

The first was when I was 16. I had the opportunity to watch a search dog working in the Magaliesberg, and I was fascinated. I remember thinking that this was something I wanted to be part of.

Then came 11 September 2001.

Watching the search-and-rescue dogs and their handlers working through the devastation in the United States made an enormous impression on me. Seeing those dogs searching, not knowing what they might find, but continuing to work alongside their handlers — it stayed with me.

In my early 20s I trained for a short bit with some guys who were into mountain search and rescue and got a great foundation in rescue work. Then, when I eventually began my own journey with working dogs, I started out training for missing human search and rescue.

But my path veered. I ended up in missing pet search and rescue instead.

And today, when I look at dogs like Zizou, Bandit and the rest of our pack, I realise that perhaps I didn’t really veer off at all. The mission is still about the missing.

The dogs are still doing what they were born to do. And that same determination to find them is still at the heart of everything we do.

Different dogs, different searches but the same purpose.

Today we remember those who were lost, those who survived, and the incredible human and canine teams who searched for them.

Never forgotten. 🇺🇸🇿🇦

09/09/2026

🐈‍⬛ “SO… I MAY HAVE GONE FOR A LITTLE WALK.” 🐾

Hi. I’m Jake…

I’m a very handsome black cat, and about two months ago my humans moved me into a lovely new home in Fourways.

Everything was going really well until Friday afternoon… The gardeners left the gate open. And well… What would YOU have done? 😼

I chose to explore the land beyond the fence!

My humans looked for me but I was having too much fun to listen to them. On Sunday, Dad spoke to Healthy Hound and tried what they call a Walk & Talk.

But.. I was being a cat. I didn’t feel like listening.

By Monday, Dad decided he needed some professional search & rescue help, so James arrived with Axl and Diane arrived with Krypto.

They checked a possible sighting down the road. They were right. It wasn’t me. 😹

Those clever dogs (both black ninja dogs) went straight back to where they had first picked up my scent in the thick greenbelt — and this time they pinpointed the area where I was hiding: Behind the compost heap!

Honestly… I thought I was a very well hidden black ninja cat. Apparently not. 😂

Then James and my humans prepared something called a lure. And let me tell you… WOW!!! It smelled SO good that I simply couldn’t resist. I followed it. I followed it all the way home.

Except… The gate was closed. 😰 So I waited.

Yesterday, Dad and my human sister-in-law opened the gate again, just in case I had come home.

And that’s when I made myself known: “MEOW.” 🐈‍⬛ They heard me and dad scooped me up.

Because obviously I wasn’t going to do anything as undignified as climb over a fence or gate. I have standards. 😌

Now I’m safely back with my awesome humans, exactly where I belong.

Welcome home, me! 😂🖤🏡

And perhaps my little adventure proves something important: Sometimes a missing cat doesn’t need to be chased. Sometimes we just need 2 cute black dogs to find us and then the right reason to come home.

📞 Healthy Hound Missing Pet Search & Rescue
083 505 9673

Please LIKE ❤️ COMMENT 💬 and SHARE 🔄 — your share could help another missing pet find their way home!

fans Fourways Review

08/09/2026

🐾 TEAM TUESDAY: BANDIT 🐾

Serious until you know him…

That’s probably the best way to describe Bandit.

At 3½ years old, this Dutch Shepherd boy is a seriously accomplished working dog.

But at home?
He’s basically a giant cuddle bug with a traffic cone. 😂

Every morning, Bandit waits for James to get up. Then it’s full-on cuddle time with Dad.

His preferred method of requesting affection? A nose boop to hands. And, unfortunately for James, the groin. 🤦‍♂️😂 If you ignore him, he’ll simply keep nudging you until you give in.

Then there is the traffic cone… A client once gave us a damaged traffic cone and Bandit decided it was the greatest thing ever invented. We have since bought him more.

He runs around with them, chews them, plays tug with them and guards them like they’re priceless possessions.

Try taking one? Bandit charges in and takes it straight back. He won’t hurt you — but let’s be very clear: IT IS HIS.

Diane occasionally jokes that he’d make an excellent French Ring dog because of his enthusiasm for the “guard” exercise. 😂

When he’s not carrying his cone, he’s probably carrying a ball. He LOVES balls. Soccer balls last approximately five seconds before becoming carry-around toys, while tennis balls are the preferred choice.

He even had a whole bag donated by HeronBridge College. Unfortunately, Bandit is exceptionally good at losing them. So if anyone has a pile of old tennis balls lying around: Bandit would like to hear from you. 😂 (his WhatsApp number is 083 505 083 505 9673)

Visitors also receive a very important job description: Throw the ball. That’s it. You may be visiting us for completely unrelated reasons, but Bandit has decided you’re here to play fetch. He will also ask for cuddles, pretend he’s interested in whatever food you’re holding and generally make himself everyone’s problem.

Except when he visits Diane’s mom. Then suddenly he’s a perfect, innocent little angel.

Bandit’s favourite evening ritual involves waiting in Axl’s room for dinner. And dinner MUST be made by Mom and must be Ideal Pet Food Adult Food. Preferably with an egg on top. 🍳

Then there’s Krypto… His absolute best friend. Bandit is Uncle Bandit — and he is completely convinced Krypto is the best thing that ever happened to him. Bandit is convinced we actually got Krypto for Bandit.

Watching them play, we are beginning to think he might be right. Krypto copies him constantly. Bandit plays with cones? Krypto plays with cones. Bandit does something? Krypto is watching.

After dinner, the two of them turn into absolute chaos until somebody finally tells them it’s time to come inside.

Bandit has his little friendships with the rest of the gang too. He and Cairo are partners in exploring and general mischief. With Peanut, he’s more likely to follow her around and go exploring. And then there’s Leo… Let’s just say everyone respects the old man. 😂

Bandit has always had a mischievous streak. Since puppyhood, he’s been a professional shoe thief. He doesn’t just steal shoes: He makes them disappear.

And our search bags? Apparently also irresistible. Bandit has destroyed more than one. 🤯

He was originally bought for Charlotte, but somewhere along the way he decided James was his person. These days, they’re basically attached at the hip. If James leaves and comes home, Bandit brings him a gift — usually his cone or a bottle — with the biggest tail wagging you can imagine.

And every night, once Zizou has decided she’s finished with Mom, Bandit gets his special Mommy cuddle too before crawling into bed in James arms.

Because underneath all that seriousness, impatience and working-dog intensity… Bandit absolutely adores his people. ❤️

You just have to know him to see it. 🐾

James calls him his “AA Battery. Diane calls him “serious until you know him.”

And Bandit?
He’s probably wondering when we are going to throw his ball.

Join us next week to read more about his working accomplishments!

fans Klaver K9- Dutch Shepherds

07/09/2026

🚗 SHE NEARLY GOT HIT BY A CAR… THEN SHE VANISHED.

Meet Jude from Monument Park, Pretoria. ❤️🐾

Jude was already not feeling well and was being treated for a skin condition when she had a terrifying close encounter with a car. She bolted.

Her mom was understandably frantic when she called us, but this is where experience with missing cats and feline behaviour made all the difference. When James spoke to Jude’s mom, he didn’t immediately send a team rushing out.

Why? Because Jude was sick, frightened and had just experienced a major trauma. Bringing people, dogs and more activity into the situation could potentially have made a terrified cat even more fearful.

Instead, James calmed things down and worked through the situation with her.

He customised the Walk & Talk guidance specifically for Jude — where to go, what to do, what NOT to do and, most importantly, how to give Jude the best possible chance of feeling safe enough to come home.

And then, later that evening we got the message: “She is back 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼”
Jude was home. ❤️

The next morning, her mom messaged:
> “Thank you for your assistance yesterday! it helped soo much! I am grateful she felt save enough to come home 🙏🏼🙏🏼”

James actually apologised for not rushing out to search. Her response?

> “No do not stress! You guys know best and just look my baby is home! The fact that you helped in such a way really realy is amazing! I would recommend you guys to anyone in any situation! 🙏🏼🙏🏼”

And she admitted that the calmness definitely helped. That is the part of missing pet work people don’t always see.

Sometimes expertise isn’t about how quickly you can get boots on the ground, it’s about knowing when to search, when not to search, and what this particular animal needs right now.

Jude didn’t need to be chased. She needed to feel safe.

And sometimes the most important thing a search team can do is give an owner the right guidance to make that happen.

And all of this guidance was FREE. We don’t charge for WhatsApp or telephone consultations.

If your cat goes missing, don’t panic and don’t just start searching blindly.

📞 Call Healthy Hound first: 083 505 9673

❤️ Like • 💬 Comment • 🔄 Share

Because the right advice at the right moment can make all the difference.

fans Rekord

04/09/2026

🐾 “I’M NOT LOST… I’M ON AN ADVENTURE!” 🐾😂

Meet Higgens — an 8-year-old Persian from Midstream who apparently decided that home life was simply not adventurous enough. 😼

Last week, Higgens spotted an opportunity when a gate was left open… and through the gap he went.

His worried mom called Healthy Hound, and Diane and Axl were sent out to find him.

Axl tracked Higgens into an area of incredibly thick veld — and at one point, the two of them actually got nose-to-nose with each other! Diane even spotted Higgens.

The team carefully checked that he hadn’t continued bolting through the veld. He hadn’t. He was still there… hiding away and clearly quite happy with his new wilderness lifestyle. 😂

Mom was given instructions to help bring this rather stubborn Persian home.

But Higgens had other plans.

A few days later, James and Axl headed back out to retrack him — only to discover that our little adventurer had moved to the opposite side of the estate!

Higgens was enjoying his freedom a little TOO much.

New instructions were given, but this determined little Persian was absolutely refusing to give up his adventure.

And so, Higgens the Adventure Cat was born. 😂

Fortunately, his escapades had attracted the attention of estate security — especially with a K9 team tracking him through the estate and his mom out running lures.

Then came the lucky break… An alert security guard spotted a suspicious-looking furry resident hiding under a car and alerted Higgens’ mom.

🎉 HIGGENS WAS HOME! 🎉

After his grand adventure, Higgens is now safely back with his cat, dog and human family — and we have a feeling this particular Persian may be grounded for a while! 😂❤️

His mom can finally get back to preparing for her public speaking competition — which we think is seriously cool! There are some amazing competitions out there for people who love public speaking, and we wish her, and everyone competing, the very best of luck. 🍀

And Higgens’ mom had us smiling from ear to ear with her messages of thanks. She even sent us a photo of Diane, James and Axl, calling them the A-Team. ❤️

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. 🐕🐕🐕❤️

Another missing pet home. Another family reunited. Another adventure with a happy ending.

If your cat goes missing, don’t wait and hope they’ll simply come home. Contact us as soon as possible. Early action can make all the difference.

📞 Healthy Hound Missing Pet Search & Rescue
083 505 9673

And if you love seeing our searches turn into WELCOME HOME stories, please LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE. ❤️

Our success stories speak for themselves — just look through our social media and you’ll see why experience matters when you’re searching for a missing pet.

Healthy Hound — finding them, one search at a time. 🐾❤️

fans Midstream Estate

03/09/2026

🐾 SOMETIMES, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF FINDING A CAT… IS CALMING THEIR HUMAN. 🐈❤️

Oliver is a very skittish ginger boy from Cedar Lakes in Fourways

When he went missing last week, his mom was understandably crazy stressed. She reached out to us for help, and we gave her our signature Walk & Talk advice, followed up with a phone call, and James helped calm her down and give her a little extra guidance.

And then? She did EVERYTHING right: She listened, stayed calm, followed the advice specifically for Oliver.

And a few hours later… Oliver was HOME. 🧡

This is something we wish more people understood about us: It isn’t always about money. It’s about helping you get your pet home in the safest manner possible and personalised to each animal

Every missing cat (or other pet for that matter) is different. They are individuals and need to be treated as such. A confident adventurer needs different advice to a terrified, skittish kitty hiding somewhere close to home.

And sometimes, getting the cat parent to breathe, slow down and think clearly is just as important as anything else. Because cats pick up on our energy too.

Oliver needed his mom calm. His mom needed someone to tell her what to do. And Oliver needed someone who understood his behaviour. That combination brought this little ginger boy home. 🧡🐾

Need help with a missing pet? Don’t panic. Contact us.

📞 083 505 9673

And if you think this could help someone who is desperately looking for their cat, LIKE, COMMENT & SHARE. You never know whose missing pet you might help bring home. ❤️

fans Fourways Review

02/09/2026

Sometimes a cat doesn’t go missing… sometimes he just needs a break from the toddler. 😂🐾

Kol went missing from his home in Midrand after life with his 2-year-old human had become… well… a LOT. 😅

You know that stage where toddlers discover that cats are absolutely fascinating and would very much like their attention? Kol apparently decided he needed some personal space. 😂

Our first search saw Axl on the case. He tracked Kol to a house hacking onto the swimming area. A lure was done and Kol came close enough for Dad to hear him outside.

But Kol had other plans. He was basically checking: “Is the small human still there?” Apparently, yes. So… Kol stayed put.

We returned for a second search, this time with Cairo, who tracked towards the pool area and gave us an indication that Kol was hanging around by a house just outside the complex — one that happened to have quite a few kitty friends. 🐈🐈‍⬛

The family went away for the weekend, and we hoped that with the toddler temporarily out of the picture, Kol might decide it was time to come home. Nope. 😂

We tried to gain access to the neighbouring property, but unfortunately that wasn’t possible. So while we were planning the next phase of the search…

Kol was spotted by that very house!

His incredibly relieved parents were able to retrieve him and finally get their boy home. ❤️

Kol has since been to the vet because he has an eye injury, and we’re waiting to hear what the doctor says.

And our job with Kol doesn’t quite end with getting him home. We are also helping his family with reintegrating Kol and his little human so that everyone can learn to live happily together again. 🥰

Because sometimes finding the missing pet is only the beginning…..

Welcome home, Kol. ❤️

Is your pet missing? Don’t wait.

Healthy Hound Missing Pet Search & Rescue uses trained search dogs and proven search techniques to help families find their missing pets.

📞 083 505 9673

Please like, comment and share — you never know whose missing pet you might help bring home. ❤️

fans

01/09/2026

WHEN HOME STARTED DISAPPEARING, SAGE DISAPPEARED TOO. 🐾

Sage is no stranger to disappearing.

Earlier this year, this naughty little kitty went missing from Honeydew — and we were called in to help bring her home.

Last week, Sage decided it was time for an encore. Except this time, her family were in the tail end of a move.

It was a move they needed to make. Home had become increasingly stressful and uncomfortable for the family because of ongoing landlord issues, and they were finally packing everything up and moving on.

But Sage didn’t understand any of that. All she knew was that her familiar home was changing. Boxes. Empty rooms. People stressed. Everything different.

And so Sage did what Sage apparently does best… She disappeared.

Her mom called us because they had very limited time to get Sage home so on Saturday, the Bandit & Krypto duo were called up.

And both dogs agreed on the same thing: Sage was still there. She hadn’t left the property. She was hiding.

Bandit was particularly convinced she was somewhere in the bamboo thicket behind the house.

There was just one little problem: The search itself had a rather unexpected moment of excitement when the landlord arrived with his dogs, despite having been asked to keep them away while we worked.

One of the dogs charged towards Bandit. James immediately pulled Bandit behind him and stepped forward to stop the dog, while Diane got Krypto to Charlotte and positioned herself between our dogs and the approaching dogs.

Thankfully, Sage’s mom was able to speak to the landlord and the dogs were put away again! Close call.

Back to the real mission. Sage’s mom already knew the drill and we used the same lure that had worked for Sage during her previous adventure.

Then came the most important instruction of all: Go home, spend time there. And: calm down.

There was no furniture left, no normal routine, just an empty house and a family waiting for their cat. But Sage needed to feel that everything was okay.

At around 8pm, the family went back to the house and sat outside in the garden and relaxed.

And at about 9:15pm, Sage casually strolled into the garden… as though she hadn’t caused everyone an enormous amount of stress.

They got her safely into a box, locked up the house and were at their new home by about 10pm.

And then, at 21:27, we received the photo and the message:
“Safe and Sound.”

When we asked for the details, the reply was wonderfully simple:
“Exactly as you said.”

The next morning came the full story:

Her mom told us:

“Thank you so very much

I am extremely grateful
And now we can have peace in our new home knowing that she is safe

Thank you so much Krypto and Bandit

Thank you Diane, James and Charlotte
You guys rock”

Sometimes finding a missing pet isn’t about searching farther, sometimes it’s about understanding why they are hiding in the first place.

Sage wasn’t lost, she was hiding from a world that had suddenly become very different. And once her family stopped stressing, sat down, and showed her that everything was okay… Sage decided it was safe to come out.

Because apparently, that’s all this little madam needed.

Welcome to your new home, Sage. Please try not to disappear again.

🐾 HAS YOUR PET GONE MISSING?

Don’t wait and hope they’ll simply come home.

Contact Healthy Hound Missing Pet Search & Rescue
📞 083 505 9673

SEARCH | RESCUE | DETECT

Please like, comment and share so more people with lost pets can get help from us like this family did.

fans

01/09/2026

🐾 TEAM TUESDAY – WEEK 4

He wasn’t interested in finding people… so we let him find what he REALLY wanted. 🐱🐾

By now, you have met Axl the search dog, you have met Axl the diva, you have learned that he must be fed first, that Ideal Pet Food Adult is the only food he’ll accept, that James tucks him into bed at night… and that a tiny thorn in his paw can bring an entire search to a standstill. 😂👑

But there’s another side to Axl: Axl is one of our cat specialists. 🐱❤️

When we realised that Axl wasn’t particularly interested in searching for humans, we didn’t give up on him, we just changed direction. And it turns out that Axl absolutely loves searching for cats!!

His calm, methodical approach makes him incredibly effective. He doesn’t need to rush around. He takes his time, works through the scent picture and trusts his nose.

And: the results speak for themselves.

Axl has searched all over South Africa — from Phalaborwa to Table Mountain, the Karoo to the West Coast, and across Gauteng, the Free State, North West and beyond.

He’s helped search for missing cats (as well as donkeys, lemurs and other animals) in all sorts of environments and situations.

And today, Axl has our highest success rate for cat searches. 🐾 (although Bandit is catching up on him)

The dog who was once told he didn’t have enough drive to be a search and rescue dog became one of the most successful missing pet search dogs on our team.

He didn’t need to become a different dog, he just needed to discover what he was good at.

And that’s probably one of the biggest lessons Axl has taught us: Every dog is different. Every dog has different motivations, different strengths and a different way of working.

Sometimes you don’t find a dog’s talent by making them fit the job. Sometimes you find it by letting the dog show you what they were born to do. ❤️

And Axl? Well… he chose cats. And we think he chose very well.

Kitty and Puppy Haven

Address

Johannesburg
2067

Website

http://www.healthyhound.co.za/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Healthy Hound Missing Pet Search & Rescue posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Johannesburg?