On Saturday, 10^th May, residents, family and friends (and their furbabies) gathered at our soccer field to watch a movie under the stars in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record of “Most dogs at a Movie”.

Unofficially 277 dogs (we are awaiting the auditors’ audited number) and their families watched the outdoor movie (the previous record set was 219 dogs in 2024).

In 2024, 219 dogs (and their human families) attended a special screening of Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie in Los Angeles. This record attempt was hosted by Kevin Frazier from Entertainment Tonight in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society and Street Food Cinema. This beat the previous official record, which was set in 2022 with 199 dogs.

And, now Eagle Canyon is on the brink of securing the World Record, with a record 277 dogs in attendance. At this stage, the record is still unofficial until such time as Guinness World Record recognises the attempt, which may take a few weeks as they work through all the supporting evidence and auditor’s reports that we will submit to their Head Office, for official verification and recognition.

From 5pm friendly four-legged canines and their families lined up for the stringent auditing process to enter the outdoor venue. For their patience, they were rewarded with doggy treats and goodie bags from Johannesburg Specialist Veterinary Centre and Juava Pet Nutrition, as well as a participation medal signalling that they were part of this historic moment in Eagle Canyon.

As the sun cast it’s golden glow over the soccer field, and darkness set in, the anticipation in the air was palpable. Across the soccer field, camp chairs, picnic blankets and happy residents were scattered. Excited barks and yips filled the air. From the food stalls, the smell of onions cooking, a melt in the mouth butter chicken curry and the scent of buttery popcorn hung on the breeze, competing with freshly made sugary donuts.

Binnelanders actress, Juava Pet Food Brand Ambassador and our guest MC, Je-Ani Swigelaar welcomed all attendees, shared the exciting news that we had unofficially welcomed 277 dogs and the movie began – 12 minutes later – the record was unofficially broken.

Time was given to families to return their furry friends home before residents enjoyed a full screening of Lady and the Tramp under a magnificent clear night sky, sponsored by Martje and Annah Hellberg of Eagle Canyon Property Brokers. Ticket sales for the movie was donated to the worthy charity of Soweto Animal Rescue and Advisory Center (SARAC).

A sincere thank you to all residents and their well-behaved fur children for supporting this unusual initiative, with the hope that this well-organised event brought joy to the estate, which was the intended purpose. A further sincere thanks to Martje and Annah for allowing the HOA to use their movie night as the platform to attempt this record and for their tremendous support and hard work to make the record attempt a reality. We are further most grateful for the help and support of the sponsors: Nolands Auditors, Vets@home, Johannesburg Specialist Veterinary Centre, Juava Pet Food, and the HOA team, without whom this event would not have been possible. Also in attendance on the night was the Woodrock Animal Rescue support service dogs, lending their support.

Soweto animal rescue and advisory center (SARAC): Their mission is to improve the living conditions of animals in Soweto and surrounds by educating and changing people’s attitudes towards animals, holding education classes for children, making them aware of cruelty to those without a voice; enlist the help of children (called Jerry’s Rangers) to be their eyes and ears and to report any cruelty to them; to provide community assistance with sterilisation, dipping, deworming and medical care; and to rescue animals in need, take care of them and find them good homes.

Our Sponsors and Service Support:
Auditors: Nolands is represented in 9 hubs in South Africa and 7 internationally. Auditing is at the centre of its business, complemented by Advisory and Law. Its team of over 350 professionals is committed to delivering tailored, forward-thinking solutions that meet its clients' evolving needs. At the heart of its identity is the ampersand – a symbol of connection, positivity, and enduring relationships. It reflects Nolands’ belief in adding value through collaboration and insight. As a firm that positions itself as not ordinary, Nolands is proud to support the Most Dogs at a Movie Night – a bold and imaginative initiative that brings people together in a truly memorable way. Nolands believes in the power of community and creativity, and is excited to be part of this record-breaking moment.

Sponsor: Juava: Why Choose Us

Pet Nutritionists: Juava is scientifically formulated to supply your pets with all the nutrients that it requires to promote bone strength, muscle tone, coat condition and general vitality and quality of life 

Standards: Juava is a premium pet food made from very high-quality ingredients. All these ingredients are specially formulated to high standard in a scientific manner to achieve the right proportions of nutrition of pet needs 

Quality and Safety: By ensuring that we keep a minimum stock level on hand at our factory, you can rest assured that the bag you buy is as close to manufacturing date as possible. 

Health and Well-being: Our special blend of fats supplies generous amount of the essential fatty acids’ ratio, this greatly helps to maintain your Pet health, coat, and skin

On Site Vet Support: Vets@Home offers mobile veterinary services to pet owners in Gauteng. We come to you, thereby eliminating the stress associated with veterinary practice visits. Animals that are anxious and fearful will have a much calmer experience in the security of their own homes. Cats are notoriously difficult to catch and transport, and large breed dogs are a challenge to load. Our aim is to minimise stress for the pet and owner, and to build a long-lasting relationship between vet, patient and client. Allow us to make regular veterinary care a pleasure for you and your pets. We strive to deliver a warm and professional service with compassion, with emphasis on outstanding client satisfaction.

On Site Vet Support: The Johannesburg Specialist Veterinary Centre is a specialised animal hospital with 8 vets in practice. We mainly deal with referral cases from other veterinary practices from across the country and neighbouring African countries. They strive to combine advanced medical procedures, quality medicine, and outstanding service for a positive client experience, and treat their patients with the compassionate care they deserve. They assist referring veterinarians in expanding the medical options available to their clients and patients.