Written by Surika Liebenberg
Photography by Duncan Shelwell
In May, we met Arthur – a dog who’d quietly sneak his way into our hearts. My partner and I own a doggy treats bakery called Barkery Bites. We moved to Cape Town last year after purchasing the company, driven by our shared love for dogs, and on weekends we began volunteering at local shelters, walking dogs.
One day, at the Paws a While event, a woman mentioned Jack’s Rescue and a dog she thought we’d love. Intrigued, we visited the rescue, eager to meet this dog and bring along some treats to donate. However, when we arrived, we were informed that the dog had a history of aggression and wouldn’t be suitable for a walk.
We decided to tour the rescue instead. That’s when we first saw Arthur. There was something about him that instantly caught our eye. We asked if we could walk him instead, and as soon as they opened his kennel, Arthur came straight up to me and wrapped me in a hug. In that moment, we knew: Arthur is The One.
Though we walked a few other dogs that day, Arthur stayed on our minds. After that, visiting him became a weekend routine. We started with simple walks at the rescue, which soon turned into teaching him to be comfortable in the car, leading to our little “dates” out and about.
We were certain we wanted to adopt Arthur; we just needed to find the right time. He fit perfectly into our lives. On July the 31st, we began fostering him, and just a week later, we made it official – Arthur was ours.
Arthur has been a dream. He’s quiet, calm, and loves making friends with the neighbours’ dog (his new girlfriend). He eagerly looks forward to his morning walks and has become a big fan of car rides. We bought him a ball, and it’s a joy to see him play with it, almost like a cat. It’s been amazing watching him come out of his shell, experiencing new things with such enthusiasm. He’s even started playing with us, chasing us around and having a blast with his toys.
Arthur is incredibly smart and has taken well to training. Living in an apartment, we had to get him used to the lift, and he picked it up quickly. We see more of his personality shine through every day, and we couldn’t be happier to have him as part of our family.
Editor’s note: Arthur and his new family would appreciate the support for their small business, Bakery Bites, from the community. Click on the ad below for more information and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
