Meet the 10-Year-Old Girl Spending Her 5th Winter in a Kennel for Rescue Dogs

You’re never too small to make a massive difference for animals who need a voice and a home. At just 10 years old, Rebecca is stepping into a kennel for... The post Meet the 10-Year-Old Girl Spending Her 5th Winter in a Kennel for Rescue Dogs appeared first on Good Things Guy.

May 27, 2026 - 14:59

Meet the 10-Year-Old Girl Spending Her 5th Winter in a Kennel for Rescue Dogs

You’re never too small to make a massive difference for animals who need a voice and a home. At just 10 years old, Rebecca is stepping into a kennel for the fifth year in a row for the Kloof and Highway SPCA Dog Box Challenge.

Kloof, South Africa (27 May 2026) – From as young as three years old, Rebecca Koszulinski has always been passionate about looking out for animals who have no one. It’s a passion that was nurtured and inspired by her family, who have lovingly opened their home to furbabies in need by fostering for various animal welfare organisations over the years.

“From a very young age, she learned how to handle animals of all sizes, shapes, and in different states of health with compassion, empathy, love, and gentle hands,” shares Rebecca’s mother, Elaine.

“Fostering from home takes the whole family’s support and help to teach and raise happy, thriving animals. Becca plays an integral part in the rehabilitation of these often neglected and abused animals. With love and care, she has actively reshaped the lives of these animals; from a one-day-old lamb that required bottle feeding, to a special-needs deaf foster puppy, to running in the garden every day to exercise the dogs, Becca is always helping.”

When Elaine expressed an interest in expanding her understanding of animal rescue, Rebecca was very keen to learn alongside her. It wasn’t long before Elaine attended her first Kloof and Highway SPCA Dog Box Challenge.

Photo Credit: Supplied by Elaine Koszulinski

Having seen the reality of animals kept in kennels with no other place to call home, Rebecca vowed to participate in the event with her mom the following year – at just five years old!

With a determined heart, she joined her mother for a full 24 hours in the middle of winter in Kloof.

“From her first experience, she met the most amazing community of people who are working so hard toward educating and helping animals in need, which truly stuck with her. She learned that teamwork and community can come together to speak for animals, and that every single person can actually make a difference – even a five-year-old child.”

Rebecca is 10 years old this year, and the upcoming SPCA Dog Box Challenge will be her fifth in a row, and Elaine’s sixth.

The challenge sees participants get ‘locked’ in a dog kennel (without the dogs inside) for 24 hours. They stay and sleep in the kennels all night while rallying to raise ‘bail’ money of R10,000 to be released the next day.

“We always hope to raise more than R10,000, of course, but any amount raised makes a difference,” Elaine says.

Her teachers at Stepping Stones Learning Centre are rooting for her and rallying behind her. Likewise, the Manager of Kloof and Highway SPCA, Barbara Patrick, commended Rebecca’s active involvement in the fundraising initiative.

“We are so proud of Becca, who has been part of our Dog Box Challenge for the past five years! We encourage all parents to teach their children how to give back and support their community. Thank you, Becca, for making a difference in the animals’ lives,” Barbara said.

The Dog Box Challenge is particularly close to Rebecca’s heart, and she hopes that more people, especially young children, will be inspired to support the cause and give more animals a fighting chance at their happily ever after.

This year’s challenge takes place from 5 June at 12 pm to 6 June 12 pm. Visit the SPCA’s website here to get involved.