The recovery of 12-year-old Nnete Leotlela — a boy his family describes as humble, compassionate, brave and smart — has become a rallying point for hundreds of strangers across the world after he was viciously attacked by five German Shepherds in Maseru earlier this month, losing both ears, his lower lip and the skin on his head.
Nnete’s story, shared through a BackaBuddy fundraising campaign, has already drawn more than 180 supporters and raised R112 785 — 23% of a R500 000 goal — as his family tries to cover medical bills that are rapidly outstripping their resources. While doctors say he is stable, he remains in ICU and faces a long journey of surgeries, rehabilitation and psychological support.
The attack happened on 6 July as Nnete was walking to collect his younger brother from aftercare in Ha Abia, Maseru. According to his family, he mistakenly stopped at the house next door to the aftercare facility. When he entered the premises, he was attacked by the dogs.
His aunt, Maiketso Titisi, described what happened in vivid detail, emphasising that Nnete did what many children might do — rang the intercom, entered confidently when the gate opened, and walked towards the door — unaware of the danger waiting inside.
“He rang the intercom, and when the gate opened, he confidently walked in to knock on the door, and that is when five German Shepherd dogs attacked him,” Titisi said.
“The struggle to save his life and run became fruitless, and he lost both his ears, his skin on the head, his lower lip, and he came out of that ordeal with a lifetime worth of trauma.”
Titisi said Nnete has been in ICU since the attack. Doctors have told the family he is stable and he has recently begun communicating through writing. He continues to receive physiotherapy and psychological support as he regains strength and tries to process what happened.
But his recovery, Titisi said, is not only physical. The trauma is already showing in flashbacks and panic. She said he has woken up believing he can smell dogs in the room and has tried to run away because he thought the animals were nearby.
Titisi said Nnete still has traumatic flashbacks, adding that he once woke up asking for an air freshener because the room smelled like dogs, and has also attempted to run away as he believed the dogs that attacked him were nearby.
For a child who, until recently, was focused on school and hobbies, the changes have been devastating. Before the attack, Nnete enjoyed playing basketball, reading and cooking. Titisi said his breakfast dishes were a family favourite, and that he was widely known in the community as welcoming and respectful.
Titisi described him as kind and respectful, adding that he is known for being welcoming in the community.
“If there’s one thing that he has demonstrated in this life is humility and compassion. If humility were to be defined, Nnete would exceed the definition,” said Titisi.
In the midst of trauma, Titisi said the boy’s character continues to show, even in hospital. She said he takes instructions well from nurses and doctors and uses writing to communicate his feelings — small signs of steadiness in a situation that has upended the family’s life.
Yet Titisi said the hardest part is watching him unable to do the things he loves — and confronting the possibility that the physical and psychological impact may change him permanently.
“The most difficult part of this journey for the family is coming to terms with the fact that our son may never be the same, physically, mentally and psychologically. The worst is the fact that we have to be strong enough for him so that he accepts himself as he is.”
The family’s hopes remain clear: that Nnete receives the surgeries and support he needs and can return, as far as possible, to his life before the attack.
“We hope that he gets the surgeries and goes back to as close as possible to what he used to be,” said Titisi. “We just hope he accepts himself as he is and continues to enjoy the fruitful life that still lies ahead.”
A key obstacle is cost. The family says their medical aid cover is nearly depleted and they cannot afford the remaining expenses. That is where the BackaBuddy campaign has become a lifeline, and also a window into how quickly a personal tragedy can mobilise a public response.
The campaign organiser, Limpho Tsasanyane, said she started the fundraiser after being moved by what she described as unimaginable trauma and the strain it would place on Nnete’s mother and family.
“As a parent, I could not stop thinking about what his mother must have been going through. I wanted to do something practical to ease the financial burden she now faces,” said Tsasanyane.
She said the response has been “extraordinary”, and that what has stood out most is the way people have given without personal connection — simply because they saw a child in need.
“What has stood out most is that people have given not because they know Nnete personally, but simply because they saw a child in desperate need,” said Tsasanyane.
Tsasanyane said the story has resonated partly because of the courage Nnete has shown while fighting for his life and enduring pain and shock. She said his resilience has inspired people to help, and that the support has helped the family feel less alone.
BackaBuddy supporters have also left messages of encouragement, offering prayers and words of comfort. One supporter, Ntebaleng Leluka, wrote: “Get well soon. The future is bright ahead of you. May God heal you.”
Another supporter, Shantell Tswatswa, added: “May God’s healing hand be over ‘Nete, in Jesus’ name. I pray for God’s provision and strength for your family in this difficult time.”
While the fundraising effort continues, the family has also signalled they want accountability. They said they intend to lay charges against the dog owner — a step that could bring legal scrutiny over how the dogs were kept, whether there was negligence, and whether the property posed a foreseeable risk to anyone entering.
For now, the focus remains on Nnete’s recovery. The campaign has raised R112 785 so far — a significant amount, but still far from the R500 000 goal. As the family waits for the next stages of treatment, they are asking for continued support, in the hope that surgeries, rehabilitation and psychological care can give the child a real chance at rebuilding his life. Help save Nete
