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 for more than a decade.
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.
For more than a decade, the rescue has helped over 1,900 Yorkies across all nine South African provinces. SAYR primarily coordinates carefully managed home-to-home rehoming. Where safe and practical, the surrender family remains involved and can provide the information that helps with matching; a foster option may sometimes be considered when genuinely needed and available.
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. Every application is reviewed for suitability and careful matching; applications and enquiries do not guarantee approval or placement.
Want to help or learn more?
How SAYR manages rehoming
SA Yorkie Rescue primarily coordinates carefully managed home-to-home rehoming. Where safe and practical, a Yorkie remains with the surrender family while SAYR manages applications, screening, matching and the handover. A foster option may sometimes be considered when genuinely needed and when a suitable foster home is available.
The public process
Surrender → Application → Home Check → Interview → Approval → Handover
Applications and enquiries do not guarantee approval or placement. Matching is not first-come-first-served. Available options depend on the individual case and current capacity.