The man sheltering hundreds of strays, even when he had no home
Shaygam Newman doesn’t have much. But the little he has, he gives endlessly to over 200 stray creatures. Every animal finds love and cares with Newman. “I belong with them, they belong to me. We’re family,” he says. His connection to strays comes from deep within his heart.
Orphaned, abused, and abandoned as a child, Newman found himself homeless. Growing up, he slept on pavements. The only warmth he felt came from the dogs beside him. For many, Newman’s desperate situation might have been the crossroads towards a life of crime. But the 23-year-old had more urgent concerns than just his own survival – he had to take action against the mistreatment of animals.
The community of Hangberg where Newman lives is rife with poverty and gang violence. These circumstances lend itself to cruel forms of entertainment such as dog fighting. When not torn to death, the animals are chained, starved, and neglected. Newman rescues these canine captives and nourishes them back to health. “In every community, there needs to be a person who loves and cares for animals,” he says. “I’m that person.” It’s a risky mission. Reaching out to animals that are deranged with fear and averse to human contact can have dangerous consequences. But Newman’s gentle manner always triumphs.