It started as a good idea shared between three animal advocates. Four years later, The Rescue Expo has become Johannesburg’s largest gathering of ethical animal rescue and rehabilitation organisations and in 2026, thanks to overwhelming public demand, it’s happening not once, but twice.
The inaugural Autumn Edition takes place on Sunday 19 April 2026, 9am–3pm at Bryanston Market, 40 Culross Road, Bryanston.
From grassroots to Jozi’s most feel-good Sunday
When The Rescue Collective launched the Expo in 2022, a handful of rescue groups set up gazebos and hoped the public would find them. By October 2025, the fourth annual event drew 2 500 visitors, hosted 60 vetted rescue and rehabilitation organisations and distributed 3 000kg of donated pet food to attending groups. Organisers were forced to turn away applicants and open an additional gazebo area to accommodate demand.
The response was unambiguous: people wanted more. So for the first time in 2026, The Rescue Expo runs as two annual events: the Autumn Edition in April and a Spring Edition in September.
A rescue for every creature
One of the Expo’s most distinctive qualities is its scope. While the public’s attention naturally gravitates toward dogs and cats, The Rescue Expo shines a light on the full spectrum of animal welfare in Gauteng: donkey sanctuaries, parrot and cockatiel rescues, rat and rodent welfare, pig havens, therapy dog programmes, wildlife rehabilitation and big cat conservation. If there’s an animal in South Africa, there’s someone quietly giving their life to protect it and the Expo is where you get to meet them.
Consumers are largely unaware of the number of NPOs doing exceptional work under incredibly difficult circumstances. The Expo gives them a platform and gives the public a reason to care beyond their own pet.
A hard truth
South Africa’s animal rescue sector operates almost entirely without government funding or formal lottery support. Most organisations survive on donations, WhatsApp appeals and the personal savings of their founders. Shelter intake pressure from abandonment and backyard breeding has never been higher and many facilities run at chronic capacity.
The Rescue Expo exists, in part, to help break that cycle, connecting rescue organisations with adopters, donors and one another, and connecting the public with a world of animal welfare they rarely get to see up close. Beyond the Expo itself, The Rescue Collective runs year-round sterilisation campaigns, food drops to shelters in need and practical support programmes.
What to expect on the day
Animal rescue and rehabilitation organisations across all species
Pet product suppliers including food, treats, beds, toys and medicines
Adoption opportunities for animals looking for forever homes
Food stalls serving meals, snacks and drinks
Fundraising merchandise supporting individual rescue groups
Pet-friendly event: leashed, well-socialised dogs welcome.
About The Rescue Collective
The Rescue Collective was founded by three people who have spent most of their lives in animal welfare: Dean Bush, founder of Greyhound Welfare SA; Jennifer Gerner, former vet nurse for CLAW; and Cheryl Hunter, who has worked across all aspects of animal welfare for more than 30 years. They started the Collective because they saw NPOs operating in silos, stretched too thin to find each other, let alone the public. The Expo is their answer.
EVENT DETAILS
The Rescue Expo — Autumn Edition
Date: Sunday 19 April 2026
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Venue: Bryanston Market, 40 Culross Road, Bryanston, Johannesburg
Entry: R50 per adult | Children free | Pet-friendly (leashed dogs welcome)
Instagram/Facebook: The Rescue Collective SA & Facebook
Email: therescuecollective@gmail.com
Some of the rescues attending include:
Adorabull
Animal Allies
ARC Rabbit Assist
Australian Shepherd Dog Rescue Org
Border Collie Resue
Brainy Birds
Cheeky beaks
Friends of Free Wildlife
Friends Of Rescued Animals
German Shorthair Pointer Rescue
Greyhound Welfare SA
Hartebeespoort Animal Welfare Society
Maltese, French Poodle & Yorkie Rescue SA
No More Tears animal rescue
Paws 4 People
Pigs ‘n Paws
Rainbow Nation Animals
Rat Angels
Rest Ur ass donkey sanctuary
SA Basset Adoptions
Schnauzer Rescue SA
The Dog’s Trust
The Lions foundation
Vaalpets
