His story broke hearts across the country.
The devoted dog, dubbed Gugulethu’s Hachikō, for his loyal vigil outside SAPS Gugulethu, has found a home.
For weeks, Sergeant stood sentinel outside SAPS Gugulethu, his eyes locked on the last place he saw his beloved owner. He refused to leave, clinging to hope, guarding a love that could never return. His sense of duty and devotion moved an entire police station, earning him not just a name, but a rank—Sergeant, a title of honour bestowed by the station’s exhibits commander Captain Veale in recognition of his loyalty.
But devotion, no matter how steadfast, cannot bring back someone who has passed away. And as the days stretched into weeks, Sergeant’s heartbreak began to show. His once-bright spirit faded, his body weakened, and his silent vigil became a slow surrender to grief.
Until kindness stepped in.
We Step In
On January 7, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA stepped in. We collected Sergeant and brought him into our care. He was assessed, and aside from a few ticks, was found to be healthy. Loved. Looked after. His late owner, whoever he was, took care of him. But Sergeant’s heart was locked in the past and his eyes held the weight of love that had nowhere to go.
But then, something extraordinary happened.
Love Finds Him Again
Today, Sergeant is no longer a dog without a home. He is Sergeant Wohlfarth, a beloved member of Norbert and Vera Wohlfarth’s family.
The couple read his story, saw the sadness in his eyes, and they just knew! Now, instead of restless nights beneath parked cars, listening for the footsteps that would never come, Sergeant sleeps soundly on one of his 3 indoor beds (or the couch), knowing he is exactly where he belongs. His world is no longer a search for what he lost—it is a joy for what he has found.
And then, just days after arriving at his new home, Sergeant Wohlfarth did something that made us all cry again.
He Ran
Not just a run—he exploded across the garden, in a wild blur of joy. He ran in circles, in loops, in bursts of pure, unrestrained happiness.
He ran like a dog who finally understood: I am home. I am safe. I am loved again.
Sergeant’s Watch Has Ended! Let the Zoomies & Play Begin
For Captain Veale, the SAPS Gugulethu Exhibit Commander who had cared so deeply for Sergeant, this news brings peace.
“Thank you, Lord. Bless you all,” she said when she heard of his adoption.
Listen to Captain Veale’s Response to Sergeant’s Run
She hopes to visit Sergeant Wohlfarth in April, celebrating both her birthday and his new beginning.
“He was part of our station, part of our hearts,” she said. “But this is what he needed—to be someone’s dog again, to have a family of his own.”
Happy Retirement Boy
Sergeant Wohlfarth has completed his watch.
He has served with loyalty and honor.
His duty is done.
He is going home.
End of watch.
Sergeant’s story confirms what every animal lover already knows. “Animals are capable of experiencing a range of emotions not unlike our own. His story demands that we pay attention, not just to him but to all animals who depend on us for care. How we treat them matters.” – Belinda Abraham, Spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.
Sergeant’s journey also reminds us that love is never lost. It changes, it endures, and when the moment comes, it returns—sometimes in the form of a soft bed, a gentle hand, and a garden where a once-broken heart can finally run free.
