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In May 2026, floods tore through the Western Cape. On the waterlogged streets of Manenberg in Cape Town, a trainee SPCA inspector spotted two dogs wading through the water. One of them would end up changing her life.
Out in the storm
Nakita Sutter, a trainee inspector with the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, was out in the storm in Manenberg with her team, trying to find lost animals.
“We were navigating the waterlogged streets when I spotted two similar-looking dogs wading through the floodwaters,” she said.
The team followed the two dogs onto a property. At the bottom of a flight of outdoor stairs, they found a makeshift kennel full of puppies.
Both dogs were mothers. They had given birth just a week apart, and both were nursing tiny, vulnerable puppies.
The dog with pleading eyes
One of the mothers caught Nakita’s attention straight away.
“One of the dogs had the most heartbreaking and pleading eyes,” she said. “Initially, I called her Mama, but given how we met, I changed her name to Stormie.”
Stormie was severely emaciated. The other mother was also thin, though not as badly.
Stormie had three puppies. Despite everything, they were doing well.
“Despite their living conditions, the puppies were in fair condition. They had good body weight and no major health concerns,” Nakita said.
“What stood out to me was that despite Stormie’s own condition, her puppies were healthy. She had clearly given everything she could to them, even at the expense of herself.”
Into SPCA care
The owners agreed to surrender the dogs, and they were taken to the SPCA.
“Animals coming into our care go through a full medical work-up with our veterinary team,” Nakita explained. “Basic testing for viruses and parasites is done, and any immediate veterinary needs are attended to within the first 24 hours.”
Nakita thinks the attachment began the very first time she took Stormie into the hospital ward with her puppies.
A bond, one walk at a time
During Stormie’s stay at the SPCA, Nakita began taking her for daily walks.
“I continued visiting Stormie every day. Sometimes it was in the morning and sometimes late in the afternoon, depending on how our day went,” she said. Inspectors’ days are busy and mostly spent on the road, but she kept coming back.
Slowly, Stormie began to recognise her.
“There was no longer the same cowering when I put the lead on,” Nakita said. “As time went on, she became less reluctant to leave her puppies for our walks.”
The moment she decided
Then came the news that all of Stormie’s puppies had found homes.
That was the turning point.
“For me, the final decision to adopt Stormie came when I found out that all of her puppies had found homes. That meant Stormie would be left on her own,” Nakita said. “It is harder to rehome an adult dog or a dog that is past the puppy stage, and I couldn’t have that on my heart.”
Her family might say the decision came much earlier.
“If you ask my family, they’ll probably tell you that I decided Stormie was coming home the day I rescued her,” she said.
A new pack and a new best friend
Today Stormie lives with Nakita, who has four dogs at home. Stormie has really taken to Nakita’s 12-year-old son.
“I don’t know whether it was initially his size, but she naturally gravitated towards him, and he towards her,” Nakita said. “Seeing her gravitate towards him and feel comfortable with him, especially in a new home, was really lovely.”
Like a puppy again
Life at home is full of firsts for Stormie.
“In many ways, she is like a puppy,” Nakita said. “We still have to teach her to go outside, help her learn to sit and teach her the routines of our home. We get to watch her experience what it means to be part of a family.”
Choosing to adopt
Nakita hopes Stormie’s story will encourage people to look beyond puppies.
“I hope they consider adopting rather than shopping. As wonderful and cute as puppies are, watching Stormie experience things for the first time as an adult dog has shown me that adopting an adult can be just as special,” she said.
“I would especially encourage people not to overlook the adults, because there are so many waiting for homes.”
For Nakita, Stormie’s story is the kind that makes the hard days worth it.
“The most rewarding part is obviously the stories that end well – Stormie’s being one of them,” she said.
The mother who gave everything to her puppies now has a family of her own. ❤️
Story retold from public reporting. Credit: Cape of Good Hope SPCA, LNN / The Citizen (https://www.citizen.co.za/network-news/lnn/article/video-flood-rescue-in-manenberg-leads-to-forever-home-for-stormie/). Photos are reference only; usage rights are pending and images will appear only once permission is granted.
