A Chance for Ballas

11th Dec, 2024

Written, and photography supplied by, Stefanie van Wyk

Professional photography by Zarcia Badenhorst Fotografie  

Ballas’s first owner lived in the heart of a rural area. When they moved away, they left him behind, and the person living in the same yard took him in until she too moved to Cape Town and just left him behind – again!

I understand that, between owners, he was hit and burnt with boiling water so badly that the scars are still visible.

We noticed him whilst at work; he wondered the streets looking for his next meal, being chased by children and having rocks thrown at him. We began giving him food and looking forward to see him again. Some days he’d show up and on others we’d wonder where he was. As I already had a dog at home (Patroon – also a rescue which I’d had since she was a puppy), we thought it might be best not to take him in as my little lady was an only child and I wasn’t sure how she’d handle a new dog. It also didn’t help that my landlady had said that I shouldn’t get another dog when we discussed taking him in (in her defence, she thought he was a big dog – he has a massive attitude, but he’s small in height).

One Saturday whilst working alone I saw him run past. I called him (by the name we’ve given him – Ballas) and he came back. I gave him a bit of food and just laid some love on him. He sat in front of our business and simply chilled… until children came past and threw rocks at him to chase him away.

I lost my cool and screamed at them to leave him alone!

But Ballas had already run away. I thought I wouldn’t see him again, but a while later he returned. After checking that he was okay, I got back to work with him sitting at the door chilling once more. When I was done with work and heading out, I gave him a little more food and said I was sorry that I wasn’t able to do more for him (yeah, I know I look crazy, but I talk with all animals!).

I got on my scooter and headed home. But when I stopped in front of my gate and looked back, there was Ballas running down the road and up to the gate.

He and my little lady sniffed each other through the gate and she barked a bit. I came through the gate, keeping him outside, and it broke my heart when he clawed at the gate as if to say: “Please let me in…” And so I did. I opened the gate and I’ve never looked back. My landlady fortunately didn’t have an issue when she met him, as I think I would’ve needed to look for another place to live because he wasn’t going anywhere.

We named him Ballas because he was well endowed... but it’s no longer the case as he’s been neutered. He lives the life of a king now, sleeping in the bed with the little lady, Patroon. They eat better than me sometimes, getting cooked meals to make sure they get everything they need.

He’s the biggest love hog, but he protects me against everything.

It just shows you how big things come in small packages, and everything in life just needs a chance to show how they can love when they’re treated with love.

I don’t really know who saved whom, because they save me every day!

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