About SA Yorkie Rescue (SAYR)
SA Yorkie Rescue, also known as SAYR, is a welfare-first Yorkshire Terrier rescue and rehoming organisation operating across South Africa since 2011.
Our story
SAYR started with a simple, practical goal: help Yorkies in South Africa find safe, suitable homes when their circumstances change — without judgment, without kennels, and without rushing.
Since 2011, the rescue has helped over 1,900 Yorkshire Terriers and Yorkie-type small dogs across all nine South African provinces. Every dog that comes through SAYR stays in a real foster home, not a kennel. That means every dog is known — their personality, their quirks, their needs — before they are matched with a new family.
How we work
SAYR by the numbers
What we believe
Every Yorkie deserves a safe, stable home — and every owner facing difficult circumstances deserves practical help without shame. Rehoming a dog is hard enough. The process should be clear, honest, and focused on the dog's welfare, not on speed or profit.
We are against puppy mills, backyard breeding, and the unsafe private rehoming that often happens on classifieds and social media. Our dogs are sterilised before placement so they cannot be used for breeding. Every adoption includes screening, a home check, and ongoing support.