Beauty from the Ashes: The Inspiring Journey Behind GoingAway Pet & House Sitting
Recently, Bay Talk Christian Network chatted to Leanne Burger, founder of GoingAway Pet & House Sitting, and invited her to share the remarkable story behind the business that has become a trusted name for pet owners across South Africa.
What emerged was far more than a business success story. It is a testimony of perseverance, faith, loss, healing, and God's incredible ability to bring beauty from ashes.
Early Years: Learning Resilience
Leanne Burger was born in Cape Town in June 1981. Following her parents' divorce when she was very young, she and her mother relocated to East London to be closer to her grandparents.
"My Mother was my rock and she was always encouraging me. Sadly she suffered from addiction which made life for us both very difficult at times.
"As a latchkey kid growing up in Johannesburg I had to assume a lot of responsibility for our family unit at a very young age. My upbringing had been traumatic as my mother suffered from alcoholism and my father was absent.
While I am grateful to my family and extended family, especially my grandparents, for the care and love that I had growing up, my daily life was a bit of a battle."
Growing up as an only child, Leanne was surrounded by animals. Cats and dogs were always part of her life, and frequent visits to the Kruger National Park with her grandparents nurtured a deep love for wildlife that would later shape her career.
Life, however, was not without challenges. Diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of six, Leanne attended several remedial schools before making the courageous transition into a mainstream high school in Johannesburg. "I will never forget a guidance teacher telling my mother and me that I would never make it into a mainstream school," Leanne recalls.
"I was determined to prove her wrong." Having attended nine schools throughout her childhood, resilience became one of her defining characteristics.
Heartbreak and Loss
After finishing school, Leanne moved to Zimbabwe with her boyfriend and studied Nature Conservation through correspondence. While living there, tragedy struck. She received a call informing her that her father had taken his own life. Although she had grown up without him, the loss was deeply painful.
"I lost any chance of ever getting to know him," she says. Not long afterward, another devastating blow followed. Her mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer and was given only months to live. Though she initially went into remission, the cancer returned, and on 30 May 2004, Leanne's beloved mother passed away.
At just 23 years old, Leanne had lost both parents. "My mother was my rock," she says. "What I would not give today to sit down and have a cup of coffee with both my mom and dad." These experiences left deep wounds, but they would also become part of a greater journey of healing and faith.
A Passion for Animals
In 2002, Leanne secured her first significant position at the Lion Park in Johannesburg. Starting as a part-time employee, she worked her way up to become Nursery Manager, caring for lions, cheetahs, tigers, caracals, hyenas, and many other species. During this time, she had the privilege of learning from renowned wildlife conservationist Kevin Richardson, who taught her valuable lessons about animal behaviour.
Those years cemented her passion for animals and deepened her understanding of their needs.
Finding Faith in the Wilderness
After several difficult years and a period of personal struggle, Leanne accepted a management position at Welgevonden Game Reserve in Limpopo in 2010. It was there that everything changed. Invited to attend a Bible study held in the African bush under lantern light and beneath the stars, Leanne began a journey that would transform her life forever. Having endured a difficult upbringing marked by loss, addiction within the family, and emotional hardship, she admits she was often unhappy and hesitant to open her heart.
Then came the evening of 25 August 2010. During a conversation with a friend and fellow believer named Dave, Leanne was asked a simple question: "What do you truly want out of life?" As prayer was offered for her, she experienced something she had never known before. "It felt as though I heard God asking me, 'What do you want, Leanne?'"
Through tears, her answer was simple: "All I want is to be happy." At that moment, she experienced an overwhelming sense of peace and the presence of God. "I can say with absolute certainty that it was that moment that changed my life forever." From that day forward, her faith journey truly began.
An Unexpected Reunion
After working at several game reserves, including Thornybush and Idwala Lodge, Leanne found herself repeatedly drawn back to East London during her time off. Although she no longer had family there, she felt an unexplainable pull toward the city. There, she reconnected with Gregg—a childhood friend she had known years earlier while living with her grandparents in Beacon Bay. What began as friendship soon developed into something much more.
In April 2011, Leanne took another leap of faith. She resigned from her position, packed her belongings into her little yellow Golf, and relocated to East London. When accommodation plans unexpectedly fell through halfway through the journey, Gregg stepped in and offered her a place to stay. Looking back today, both recognise God's hand in orchestrating the events that would ultimately bring them together.
The Birth of GoingAway
The seeds of GoingAway Pet & House Sitting had actually been planted years earlier. While living in Cape Town, Leanne began walking dogs and house-sitting to supplement her income. Later, after being retrenched in Johannesburg in 2009 and struggling financially, she returned to pet sitting as a way to survive. Using simple black-and-white flyers placed in veterinary clinics, she began offering pet-feeding services.
The response was overwhelming. Within just a few months, she had earned enough to cover several months' rent. "That was when I realised this wasn't just a side job anymore. It was a real opportunity." Still, the dream remained in the background while she pursued full-time employment.
Building a Business One Client at a Time
After settling in East London, Leanne once again started house-sitting alongside her permanent employment. By 2013, demand had grown so much that she needed help. Reluctantly, she hired her first team member, Rox. The decision proved pivotal. Soon they were fully booked, and before long, more staff joined the growing team. Word spread rapidly as satisfied clients recommended GoingAway to friends and family. The company's reputation for trustworthiness, professionalism, and exceptional care grew steadily. People even began approaching Leanne seeking employment opportunities. "I was shocked," she laughs. "But I ran with it."
Love, Marriage and Another Leap of Faith
On 28 November 2014, Gregg proposed. Leanne remembers being overwhelmed by the fact that someone loved her enough to want to spend their life with her. "It wasn't the ring that mattered," she says. "I was simply amazed that someone loved me that much." On 11 October 2015, she was baptised. Moments before entering the water, a fish eagle cried overhead—a sound that held special significance for both her and Gregg from their childhood days spent along the river.
"It felt like a beautiful confirmation from the Lord." The couple married on 20 February 2016 in an intimate family ceremony held in her uncle's garden in Cape Town.
Following the Dream
Despite her growing business, Leanne was still working in the corporate world and feeling increasingly exhausted. After much prayer, discussion with Gregg, and encouragement from family, she decided to pursue GoingAway full-time. However, she knew pet sitting alone would not provide sufficient income. Her Aunt Sue suggested dog grooming. Initially, Leanne laughed at the idea. Yet after prayer and research, she enrolled with a respected grooming instructor in Cape Town. In 2017, she spent three months learning to groom dogs, cats, and rabbits.
The decision would become another turning point. That same year, at age 35, Leanne left the corporate world and committed herself fully to building GoingAway.
A Growing Team and Expanding Vision
What began as a one-woman operation has grown into a thriving business. Today, GoingAway offers both pet sitting and mobile grooming services. The grooming division is often booked five to six weeks in advance, while pet-sitting teams serve communities in East London, Gqeberha, Cape Town, Grahamstown, and Howick.
The company's head office remains based in East London. More importantly, GoingAway has created employment opportunities for numerous people while providing peace of mind to pet owners across South Africa.
Looking Back
Reflecting on the journey, Leanne remains humbled by everything God has done. "Sometimes I wonder why me? I'm dyslexic and certainly not a mathematician. How did this happen?" Then she answers her own question. "It is only by the grace and strength of the Lord Jesus Christ, together with the incredible staff and clients who have supported us, that GoingAway has become what it is today." She also acknowledges the unwavering support of her husband and family, who continue to encourage her through every challenge.
Looking back at an old CV she wrote in 2004, Leanne smiles. Under "Goals" she had written: "To manage a team of people, be the best in what I do, and put everything into my work." Little did she know that every challenge, every loss, every job, and every lesson was preparing her for exactly that purpose.
Beauty from the Ashes
Leanne believes her life is living proof of God's faithfulness.
Through heartbreak, loss, uncertainty, and struggle, God continued to guide, strengthen, and shape her journey.
Her favourite Scripture perfectly captures her testimony: Romans 8:28 (NIV) "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Today, Leanne often reflects on the possibility of writing a book one day. If she does, she already knows the title: Beauty from the Ashes Because that, she says, is exactly what God has done with her life.
"Never give up and never lose hope. The Lord is with you every single step of the way."
Compiled by Stella Ashworth for Bay Talk Christian Network.
