Hundreds of pedigree dogs, including Pekingese and Shih Tzus, are being left behind in South African townships and animal shelters as many Afrikaner families emigrate to the United States under a refugee program initiated by the Trump administration. The program, launched after President Trump signed an executive order in February 2025, offers refugee status to Afrikaners who claim to be fleeing violent crime and government policies they consider hostile.

Jacqui Martheze, director of Woodrock Animal Rescue in Pretoria, said her team frequently encounters high-maintenance lapdogs abandoned or left in the care of domestic workers who have lost their jobs due to their employers’ departures. These workers often struggle to provide the specialized care to which the dogs were accustomed, including routine grooming, vaccinations, and proper nutrition. Martheze’s shelter, which has operated on donations for more than four decades, currently houses about 500 animals and is overwhelmed by the influx. Last week, the shelter received 20 calls from families preparing to emigrate but could only accommodate seven dogs due to space constraints.

Transporting pets to the United States is another significant challenge. The American government provides no assistance with moving animals, and private shipping can cost between R35,000 and R50,000 (approximately £1,500 to £2,150). Many emigrants, who are already burdened by the financial demands of relocation, find these expenses prohibitive, forcing them in some cases to leave their pets behind.

Since the inception of the program, over 7,700 Afrikaners have been admitted as refugees. However, those who participate must repay their airfare in installments, underscoring that the flights are not free.

The migration has sparked considerable controversy within South Africa. Supporters cite concerns over rising crime rates and dissatisfaction with government policies, including land reform and race-based economic empowerment measures. Critics, including some Afrikaners, argue that the refugees have bought into unsubstantiated claims of “white genocide” promoted by the US administration and criticize them for abandoning the country rather than working to address its challenges.

The refugee program is part of a broader diplomatic rift between the Trump administration and the South African government. The US president has criticized Pretoria’s land expropriation initiatives, its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, economic ties with Iran, and has imposed tariffs in response. This tension culminated in the expulsion of South Africa’s former ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, who was declared persona non grata after labeling the Trump administration a supremacist movement.

South Africa’s new ambassador to the United States, Roelf Meyer, faces the task of easing these strained relations amid ongoing political and social challenges that continue to drive Afrikaner emigration and its unintended consequences for the country’s animal welfare organizations.