We live in a dangerous world. But sometimes, we fail to realize just how safe we have it here in North America, in spite of the escalating gun violence in the USA. Last week, Karlene from Missing Pet Solutions, one of my graduate pet detectives who lives in South Africa, had the unthinkable happen. In the middle of the night, armed intruders committed a home invasion where they broke through a security gate that protected her home and busted through a back door.
As if this were not traumatic enough, both of Karlene’s K9 Pet Tracker dogs, Red and Khaos, ran out of that back door. The robbers had left poisoned sausages on the ground, which kept the dogs occupied while the intruders held Karlene’s house sitters at gunpoint (Karlene and her husband were away from home) and stole all of her valuables. Both of Karlene’s K9 Pet Tracker dogs, Red and (retired) Khaos died from the poisoning.
Our pet tracking community is still in shock. Karlene and her family are traumatized and left wondering just how she will move forward. It takes many months (and significant finances) to train a K9 Pet Tracker. Karlene has put up a fundraiser through a South African version of “GoFundMe” called “BackaBuddy” so she can pay bills, purchase replacement items for what was stolen, and train up a new K9 pet tracker, which would enable her to offer her lost pet recovery services again.
Here is Karlene’s story with a link to her fundraiser.
Red and Khaos are gone...
Help Me Rebuild After an Unimaginable Loss
My name is Karlene, and I run Missing Pet Solutions, where we specialize in reuniting lost pets with their families through expert K9 searches. It’s not just a job—it’s a calling that my dogs, Red and Khaos, shared with me.
On Friday morning, our lives changed forever. While my husband and I were away on business for just one night, four armed men broke into our home. Two of them wore balaclavas. They forced their way in through the back door, held up the people inside, and separated them into different rooms. It was a nightmare.
Inside the home were my beloved dogs, Red and Khaos—innocent, loyal, highly trained tracking dogs who dedicated their lives to helping others. The intruders poisoned them with sausage laced with Two Step—a cruel, illegal poison. We found more sausage in the garden.
Red crawled into his kennel to die. Khaos died outside her kennel. Our neighbor’s little Jack Russell was also poisoned. Three innocent souls were taken in the most heartless way imaginable.
Red (photo by Karlene, Missing Pet Solutions)
Karlene with Khaos
Photo credit: Karlene, Missing Pet Solutions
Red and I had a full week of search bookings ahead. He adored his work, and through it, we earned our living. Khaos was retired, but always by our side. The grief I feel is indescribable. My heart is broken. My anger is immeasurable.
As if the deaths weren't devastating enough, the robbers stole everything we had—from electronics to tools, leaving behind only our furniture and broken hearts.
Now I face the enormous task of picking up the pieces—not only emotionally, but financially too. I need to get another dog to carry on Red’s legacy and to continue the work that helps families in desperate situations.
Red’s father is available to purchase, and the training will cost approximately R15,000 [Editor’s note: about $841 in USD funds]. But after this tragedy, I have nothing left to give.
This is why I am humbly turning to you. I have created a campaign on BackaBuddy, asking for any assistance you can offer. Every single contribution—no matter how small—will help me rebuild and return to doing what I love: bringing lost pets home.
If you can help, or even just share this appeal, I would be deeply grateful.
Thank you for reading, for caring, and for standing with me in this time of heartbreak.
Here’s a short video (it cuts off in the middle of the song and I can’t get the volume to work!) that Karlene put together that includes photos of Red and Khaos.
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No words. Ugh. The cruelty and brazenness. May they find a light for the path forward.
I hate people sometimes 😒