From Broken Hearts to a House Filled with Hair and Love

Left to right: Mia, Daisy, Deimos and Lucy

Written by Chantelle Balzer

Professional Photography by Cat Schramm – The Pet Photographer

My love for animals is endless.

The Rough Year of 2024...

Kitty

You know how they always say, “The cat distribution system chose you.”? Well, in my case, the system was my ginger cat, and he brought home a feral cat we named Kitty.

Kitty was a gentle soul who only wanted love – and love was all I wanted to give. Three years of trying. Three years of Simba waking me up to greet him. Three years of loving a cat I could never touch.

One night, Kitty came into my room for the first time… sadly, it was also the last.

The next day, Deimos led me to the backyard where I found Kitty in pain. I picked him up and rushed to the vet – my first time ever holding him… and the last.

Kitty had a severe mouth abscess and feline AIDS from surviving on the streets. We tried everything, but the kindest choice was to let him go.

As we stood by his side in those final minutes, we promised him: “If God sends you our way again, we’ll love you so deeply it’ll make up for all the years you went without.”

His final gift to us was a soft purr, as if saying goodbye while Heaven welcomed him home.

Glitter

Glitter was an albino Alsatian – oh, what a beautiful dog she was, inside and out.

She was the voice of our home. If she wanted a Beeno, you’d better get up and give her one, or risk being barked into submission! She always knew when the cookie jar was full and could convince everyone to sneak her a treat (sneaky doggy).

For those wondering, she got her name from my sister’s favourite colour when she came to live with us.

In October 2024, we noticed she was coughing a lot and she wasn’t so full of energy as she usually was. A vet-check shattered our hearts: lung cancer; a cruel illness. Due to the cancer, she got an enlarged heart that one day might just stop.

Despite our tears and all the kisses, goodbye was the best choice for her. We had to let our sweet Glitter go.

Thirteen years of love, laughter, barks… and LOTS of hair!

If love could’ve saved them, they would’ve lived forever.

Phoenix and Leya

Phoenix and Leya were only supposed to stay with us for a month or two. That turned into four wonderful years.

Phoenix is a Dachshund, and all Dachshund owners know they love barking! So much so that dogs were banned where my aunt and uncle lived. We offered to foster them until the situation was sorted.

Phoenix was the macho dog, the “Rottweiler”, the protector of all (in his mind at least!). But to me, he was love in its purest, longest form. He was attached to me, summer weather or winter weather in my arms is where he wants to be 24/7. He was my “worsie”, and I’ll always love him deeply.

Leya was the opposite. A diva! A pampered queen! A white fluffy angel!

She expected cookies to be delivered to her bed at ALL times. And don’t even think about trying to call her for a treat, she stands up for no one. She adored hair-drying sessions, massages, and spa-like treatment. Life is so hard being a dog who gets things delivered to it.

I think she should’ve been Queen Elizabeth’s dog with how she wanted to be treated.

Two weeks after losing Glitter, we got the news – my aunt had finally won the voting to allow pets at their place and was taking them back. I was shattered. They may have gone back home, but they left a hole in mine.

Our home once echoed with the paws of five beloved dogs and lots of barks. Now, with only two, the silence was deafening and heart-breaking.

Lucy’s Story

One day, I saw a Facebook post: puppies up for adoption. Their mom was found next to a highway, ear cut off and a belly full of babies.

One pup stood out – her little teeth, her smile, her eyes, and that wrinkled forehead. I applied to adopt her through Woodrock Animal Shelter and met her at the Cat Café in Kyalami. It was love at first sight, and two weeks later, Lucy joined our home.

She loves kisses, candles, cookies – and booping you at 50 km/h with her snoot, breaking noses and teeth (not her own)! Although she’s still young, she’s already shown her character to be fearless and protective of her people. I can’t wait to see what more she’ll be bringing to our family.

Daisy

Daisy was a stray, just two or three months old, found and taken to our vet. No one claimed her for two weeks. I knew I had room in my heart and home for a pup as beautiful as her.

Daisy came to us afraid, flinching at raised hands, unsure of kindness. She looked guilty for sleeping on the bed and just being in the house. But day by day, she began to trust.

I made her a promise: “No one will ever hurt you again. You’ll never go hungry. And you’ll always, always be loved.”

She’s our little piranha – naughty, chompy, and adorable. She loves to be held and kissed. She has Glitter’s cookie obsession and knows when the cupboard creaks open! Even if she’s not remotely close to it.

I believe God sent her our way to help heal what we’ve lost.

Deimos

Deimos is our eight-year-old, 50kg Boxer who thinks he’s a lapdog. I haven’t had the heart to tell him otherwise yet.

His Raptor phase never left him, he still plays and acts like he’s two, especially with his new siblings around. He also loves to jump around like a goat, making every day filled with joy and laughter.

He’s a squeaky toy addict, howling with joy and guarding his favourite toy like a treasure. Deimos is our gentle giant. He wouldn’t hurt a fly but would protect us with all his might (and slobber). He gives daily hugs – doesn’t matter if you’re wearing black or white or if his face is soaked. He’s our silly goofball.

Mia

Mia is my Jack Russell, my hiking buddy, my drama queen, my princess. She adores Wolwespruit trails – peaceful hikes far from the chaos and chomps of puppies. She can shred a squeaky toy in under two minutes and fake an “eina” leg for sympathy and perhaps a Band-Aid. Sometimes, she even forgets which leg was supposedly sore!

Mia has a pink summer hat that she LOVES! Every time she wears it, she expects compliments. She’s my little drama queen.

Our Fur Family Doesn’t Stop There...

We also have three cats:

Tammy

Tammy was saved by my sister and her husband. They found her on the side of the road, still very young and very hungry. Funny story, Tammy was actually first called Tommy, and I think everyone knows what happened here. Tammy gave birth to six beautiful babies, and is very happy to this day. Tammy might be the smallest cat we have, but she’s the boss around here, the feistiest one of them all.

Cupcake

If Edward Scissor Hands had a cat, Cupcake would be it. She has claws like a lion and eyes so big, hunting for the next prey, but the only prey she’ll be hunting is the laser! Cupcake is the definition of gentle giant in a cat form; she has the softest heart ever!

Cupcake is employed and works a tough 9-to-5 job where she shreds papers and important documents that clearly state “DO NOT SHRED”. But, she is forgiven because she is still learning to read. The rest of her working hours she naps to rest her claws for the next shredding task coming her way.

Simba

Simba was also picked up, and I believed he was sent my way because God knew I’d love him with every breath in my body. He’s a very fluffy ginger cat. If he sees Tammy, you bet his chest MUST be puffed out and he MUST walk like the lion he is past her. (A casual show-off, I guess.)

Simba is a collector of blankets and has about 20 in his current collection. His supplier? Yes, that’s me, his mom. He loves his fish toy and bringing gifts to his mom (the most surprising gifts I’ve gotten are a snake, a bat, a tarentaal, a frog and many, many more.) Simba’s every night plan is to be in bed with his blanket, in his mouth baking biscuits.

Our home is noisy, muddy, filled with hair – and absolutely perfect.

From loss to love, from emptiness to a house filled with tails and purrs, our story proves one thing: sometimes, the best families are the ones we choose and rescue.

A home is never truly a home without a wiggly butt and wet nose greeting you every day.