Life with Luna and Zara

Luna (left) and Zara

Written by Tracey Faught

Professional photography by Nat Gold ZA 

When my German Shepherd Sasha passed away from cancer in March 2024, my dog Axel and I were completely heartbroken.

Luna-Lu

I’d gone through months of endless vet visits and procedures for her, trying to treat and save her. For about two weeks after she passed Axel was a mere shadow of himself and severely depressed. I was very worried about him. He and Sasha had a very close bond, and he was obviously lonely and upset.

Even though I didn’t feel ready in my heart for another fur baby, I knew he needed company, so I visited a few rescue organisations looking for a new companion for him.

On my way to one of the rescue organisations, I had Axel in the car with me for introduction purposes to a potential new doggo, but my ex-partner suggested we stop at the Durban and Coastal SPCA beforehand, so I did.

I walked through and saw a puppy version of Sasha – same colouring and everything – the similarities were uncanny. I battled to look at her as she reminded me too much of Sasha and my heart was still broken. There was also a sign on her cage saying “booked”, so I asked the staff to bring out another female Africanis that had been very excited and happy to see me. When they brought out the Africanis, she was extremely timid and scared and, although she’d been affectionate towards me in her cage, she shied away from me.

My ex-partner asked at the reception desk if the German Shepherd (GSD) puppy was indeed booked. On being told she wasn’t, he asked them to bring her out – trying to encourage me to just look at her. When she was brought out, she came straight over to me, put her paws over my legs as I was sitting down, lay on my lap and “claimed” me.

It was like she was saying to me, “Hello, you’re my new mom!” My heart burst and I knew then and there that she was mine.

I took her outside to meet Axel and do an introduction on neutral territory. Initially he growled and had no interest in her going near him, but after a while of walking past him and slowly bringing her closer to him, he stopped growling. I paid the adoption fee, and whilst I was standing at the counter, she sat in between my legs and didn’t want me to leave – further confirmation for me that she was the right girl (picture attached). She’d been surrendered by a couple who were getting divorced and she was no longer wanted.

I had to leave her at the SPCA for about a week to be spayed; they estimated that she was three months old, and their policy is to not allow an animal to be adopted unless it’s been sterilised. When we went back to fetch her, Axel came along for a reintroduction, and then I sat in the back of the car with her and Axel to monitor them on the way home.

I stayed home for about a week to ensure that Axel accepted her, and within two weeks they were a bonded pair. I believe Sasha sent her to me, saying (to coin a sentiment): “The dog you love today was sent to you by the dog you loved yesterday.” My Luna-Lu even has some of the same character traits as Sasha, despite still having her own uniqueness.

Luna is just as terrified of fireworks and thunder as her brother, Axel, which she definitely picked up from him – when I first got her, thunder didn’t bother her, but within a few months it did start to bother her. Luna is very clever and has learnt not only basic commands but others too; three examples are to “crawl” on the ground, to walk in between my legs, and to turn in circles on command.

Zara Bug Bear

Fast forward to October 2025. I always share posts from rescue organisations with whom I associate. In May 2025 I became a Director of Durban Animal Welfare Network (DAWN) – a non-profit organisation consisting of certain rescue organisations and volunteers in the animal welfare space. One of its members, SerendiPitty Rescue, had posted about GSD puppies in their care that were up for adoption.

I’ve wanted to be able to rescue more doggies for ages, and if I had my way I’d live on a huge plot of land and have hundreds of them.

In November 2025, I took the plunge and adopted Zara through SerendiPitty. Although I share posts from a lot of rescue organisations, she somehow caught my attention. She was approximately eight or nine weeks old.

SerendiPitty were so helpful with the introduction to my existing two, Axel and Luna. Because Luna and Axel are so bonded, I was extremely nervous about whether they’d accept a new addition to the family, worrying about the “two’s company, three’s a crowd” adage.

Whilst Luna has completely accepted Zara and they endlessly play together, Axel still has his moments with her as she’s not learnt to leave him alone. It’s a work in progress, but she’s my “Zara Bug Bear” and thankfully there haven’t been any major incidents amongst them.

Zara is doing well with her training of basic commands and, just like brother Axel and sister Luna, loves attention and affection. Every night it’s a competition between the three of them to see which two are going to be able to sleep on the empty side of my bed.

The unconditional love and loyalty I get from my three fur babies is just amazing. To go home to them each day is pure joy and I much prefer to be at home with them than to be away from them. All three are my shadows and generally follow me everywhere from room to room at home.

Spending time with them fills my soul and I feel so blessed to be their mom!