Look at me NOW!

Michelle Mayo shares Cassie, who was adopted from The Blue Bundu Brigade Animal Rescue & Rehoming

“Cassie’s mom is a rescue and was pregnant. She had five pups, and when we saw this cute little white pup, we knew we had to adopt her. She looks so much like our adult rescue, Jodie, who was pining after losing her best friend to a brain tumour.

“Cassie came home in June and almost immediately she and Jodie were best friends. Cassie is a real cuddle bug who lives for treats. She does suffer from separation anxiety as she’s part Pit Bull (hard to believe!), but she’s adapted to her crate like a champ. Her favourite trick is to lie on the back of the couch and look out of the window!

“We love her to bits.”

Photography credit: Candice Araujo Photography

Michelle Ferreira shares Bambi, adopted from Wetnose Animal Rescue

“Bambi was super-fast and so sweet. We took her home and she fitted right in. Unfortunately, she’s very skittish of almost everything and she gets uneasy at the drop of a hat. 

“If there’s one dog that could do therapy for people, it would be her; but again, she’s too scared. She’s amazing and super well-behaved.”

Caz Haines shares Iris

“I found Iris wandering down a back road in Eshowe. I couldn’t just drive past her, so I stopped and managed to coax her closer.

“She was taken to the Eshowe SPCA because I didn’t know her Rabies status. She stayed there for the mandatory 10 days. After that, I completed the adoption process with them and brought her home!

“She’s been such a joy, brought so much laughter to our lives, and is full of character. She’s an Africanis-Pit Bull cross. Rescue is definitely the best breed!”

Michelle Ferreira shares Barney and Patsy

“We adopted Barney and Patsy via Candice Vorster on Facebook. I felt like we needed something different (not a fish) and ended up seeing the lovely picture of these two balls of fluff. They came home and, after some slow introduction and house training to not wonder off, they’re now perfectly part of the house. 

“They just turned one. They’re absolute ‘dog cats’: they come when called, are loud when wanting attention, and eat when the dogs eat, even if just a snack. They’re super little fluffs and we adore them.”

Mirjam and Pierre van der Wel share Oakley, who was adopted from Save-a-Pet

“Oakley was born in Kirkwood, Eastern Cape, in December 2021, and when her owners emigrated in 2024, Save-a-Pet put her up for adoption. 

“After losing our precious dog, Meneer, our hearts and home felt way too empty without a dog in it. We knew we weren’t up for a puppy, so Oakley was the perfect fit for our family and we adopted her in early August.

“It took a little while for the resident cats (four of them) to take to her. She was ‘cat friendly’, but they weren’t ‘dog friendly’ initially. They’ve sorted their issues out and now live together happily. 

“She’s successfully solved the mole problem in the garden by her persistent hole digging, sending the moles on their way. She loves her daily walks, especially when she gets to meet new people and animals. And she ‘has’ to chase birds, especially the hadeda!

“She now lives a happy life with us and, of course, we’re in love with her!”

Lynette Botes shares Tweety

“I adopted Tweety in August 2019 from a guy living in a shack on one of the smallholdings where we live outside Polokwane. She was just a few weeks old when I saw her sitting against the shack in the sun, a small white scared little thing. I asked him about her, and he said he was moving, and she had to find her own way because he wasn’t taking her with him. That did it for me and off I went with her. She was so scared when I picked her up that she literally screamed like a little child. Off to the vet we went for a check-up; she weighed just 1.2 kilograms.

“It really took some time for her to come out of the ‘frozen’ stage of fear with people. I was the only one who could hold and touch her. But we got there in the end and today she’s my wild child. She loves climbing trees. She really hates hadedas and cats and, when chasing them, she still screams like a person. Her aim in life is to catch a hadeda – if she does, I’m really wondering what she’ll do with it.

“She’s still very skinny, but the vet says that’s how she is. What breed she is we can only guess. Forget about going to the parlour, as the first (and last) trip ended up in disaster, with her screaming and biting the clippers. I suppose she prefers the ‘tussled’ look. She loves the elderly couple who live in a flat next to our house and visits them every day, climbing over a very high wall. She’s a real lap-bug and will spend the whole night on my lap in front of the TV. I just love my Tweety to bits.”

Lynette Botes shares Peanut

“Peanut was found at someone’s gate in Polokwane, after midnight, in June 2016. As they had other big dogs, they couldn’t keep her and posted her pictures on Facebook. I saw it and immediately phoned and was on my way to fetch her. What a tiny little body, as can be seen from the photographs! She’d sustained an injury to her back leg and I thus took her to the vet the following morning for an operation. They said she was about ten weeks old at that time.

“Since the beginning she was very skittish and extremely scared of people, except me. If we have visitors, she’ll jump on my lap and hide her face underneath my arms. She’s a gentle soul with a lovely personality – a real princess. She spends most of her days close to where I am in the house and follows me everywhere.

“I don’t really know what breed she is, but I call her a Chiyorsie, because I think there’s some Chihuahua and some Worsie somewhere in between. Those ears look like those of a bateared fox. Her body has really grown quite long since she was a puppy. I love her to bits as she lights up my day with her gentle ways.”

Michelle Ferreira shares Ozzy, who was adopted from Alberton SPCA

“Ozzy is our little powerhouse. He’s 4kg packed with more personality then his body can handle. He’s 13 years old. Ozzy has bladder stones and Addison’s Disease, but thanks to Dr Adri from Johannesburg Specialist Veterinary Clinic and The Glens Veterinary Hospital, we’ve been able to save him twice. Once, he was at death’s door – I drove so very fast to save him. 

“He used to do long runs, but unfortunately age slows them down. But he’s wonderful, a real little baby boy. He watches TV and he talks back. He’s awesome.”

David Milne shares Toulouse, who was adopted from Nicholson Kitty Rescue

“It’s been exactly a year since Zeppie was diagnosed with Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).

“I lost a previous cat to FIP in 2019, so when I heard the news I was mortified, but thanks to some angels, I managed to get him help as he went downhill so quickly and thought I’d have to put him down in a few days.

“His recovery was miraculous but has developed a special soft cat treat addiction with his sister as I had to give it to him twice a day for almost 80 days with his meds.

“He’s so cute, naughty, doesn’t listen and is spoilt rotten, and all my cats are rescues.

“He’s so loveable, funny and beyond amazing.”

Dee Ivings shares Mango and Charly

(As editor... I am taking the liberty to share my cute budgies!)

“Followers of Happy Tails will know all about my recent adoption of Mango, whose doting owners emigrated to Spain. Mango had a few weeks of daily ‘playdates’ in his own cage to get Charly used to his new buddy and get used to our family routine. When we were sure all was well, he joined Charly in his cage.

“Mango is a tame budgie and I’m so enjoying interacting with him, letting him step up onto my finger and having him delight in ‘out-of-cage’ time daily. He loves to look out the window and chirp in excitement at all he can see.

“Charly is also a rescue – he was saved from the jaws of a Jack Russell a few years back in someone’s back garden and I offered him a home with our Bella Bird. Sadly, Bella passed away at the end of August. When posting to find a new rescue budgie as a friend for Charly, Mango’s mom’s neighbour saw my post and, as they say, the rest is history. It was simply meant to be!

“Charly’s getting used to having Mango as his new friend. Every day they get a little more attached to each other.

“Charly isn’t tame (and believe me, I’ve tried), but when Mango gets ‘free flight’ time, I leave the cage open and am hoping that, soon, Charly will follow Mango out to enjoy some free flight time too.”

How I unexpectedly became a birdie mom is related here: https://happytailsmagazine.co.za/dds-blog/the-bird-in-a-bush

Tineka Kriel shares Elisabeth, aka Lizzy, who was adopted from TEARS

“Lizzy is our new family member. She’s now five months old, but I think she’s an old soul trapped in a puppy’s body. She’s highly intelligent and very obedient. We think she might have some Malinois in her.

“She was so intrigued with all the new smells and sounds, and she was just so grateful to have a warm and way oversized bed. Now, after the initial shock, she seems to have settled in nicely, and she and Romy, our other rescue dog, are starting to play more and more.

“TEARS did an amazing job with doing initial puppy training and she already knows all the basics. She was also basically potty trained within three days. It’s almost too good to be true, so we’re still waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Maureen Ledger shares Moo, Jones and Shelby, all adopted from Nicholson Kitty Rescue

“I went to Lynette Nicholson Kitty Rescue about seven years ago to have a look at black-and-white Moo and ended up with him and ginger Jones; they were bonded, so it was better to keep them together.

“Moo was pretty feral and it took me about two months to gain his trust before I could even touch him. He worked on the principle that if Jones survived being touched, maybe he would too. Now Moo is a cuddle junkie and loves being held.

“About three years ago I was at Lynette’s rescue and happened to notice a gorgeous tortie chasing a butterfly; I enquired about her and that’s how Shelby came into my life. She walked into my house and took over completely. She knows her name and also retrieves balls when thrown, just a like a dog does, so she probably thinks she’s a dog, especially when she’s bullying my German Shepherds, who are simply fascinated by her.”

Dee Ivings shares Kiki D, who was adopted from Animal Welfare Society Helderberg

(And again...  editor taking liberties here...)

“Kiki D came into our hearts (and home) to help us heal over the devastating loss of our Sheba, whom we lost at 13 years of age. Kiki certainly stopped the tears and turned our world around (mostly in a good way). We’d forgotten the challenges of having a puppy, but now, at six months old, we can’t imagine life without her.

“Kiki is a clever girl, a very busy girl and without doubt the most vocal dog we’ve ever had. She makes us laugh daily and she’s adored by all who know and meet her. Her interesting looks always have people asking us, “What is she?” We reply: “A Sumadog... suma-this and suma-that.” Whatever she is, we adore her!”

Joanne Ross shares Kai, Winston and Tucker

“Kai Ross came to us shortly after the death of my first love, Duke the Boston. Kai had a rough start to life. He was knocked over by a taxi at 15 weeks old, sustaining a complete degloving of one of his paws. He had a tummy full of stones and all the worms. Thankfully, Aid4Aid gifted us with Kai.

“Winston Ross came into Boston Terrier Rescue with his brother at just over a year old. Winston is more cat than dog and it took us a LONG time to figure him out. When he first arrived we couldn’t touch him. After fighting to figure him out, we found out he has a chronic condition that affects his fluff butt, which has caused pain and anxiety his whole life. We’re on the mend and now we cuddle!

“Tucker Ross came in from the SPCA. He’s just the most beautiful cuddly lap dog, and he’s SO similar to Duke in personality that we really feel he was sent to us.

“We never thought we’d be a three-dog home, but we wouldn’t change it for the world!”

Michelle Stokes shares Cooper Valentino

“I was gardening and heard a cat crying. I searched all over the neighbourhood and eventually found him in the garden of the empty house next door. I had to scale a six-foot wall to get him. What I found was a three-week old kitten – the cry didn’t match his weakness. I took him to my friend who’s a foster for Hilltop Animal outreach in East London. It was found that he had biliary, a head cold and a chest infection.  

“It was touch and go for a while, but eventually this tiny little waif came home to us. He’s progressed non-stop and today is a confident, charming young man of 18 months. He’s a great adventurer and is always found climbing somewhere or doing something he shouldn’t. His greatest love is his hot water bottle. He completes our home and I’m grateful for the day that he called out to me.”

Dallas du Toit shares Pepper and Basil Blue

“Pepper and Basil Blue are our dynamic duo who bring joy, mischief, and a whole lot of personality to our home.

“First up, meet Pepper, our oldest and sassiest furry friend! Pepper hails from the bustling streets of Lavender Hill, where she was rescued along with her mom and siblings before finding a home at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in Grassy Park. We adopted her at just five months old, and now she’s a seven-year-old ball of energy who, quite literally, is ball-obsessed. If there isn’t a ball around, she’ll proudly present you with a leaf from the garden – anything round-ish will suffice! Pepper may be a small mixed breed, but with her Jack Russell/Collie looks, she’s got the attitude of an alpha. Loyal, protective, and just a tad picky (no bread or anything too fattening, please), she’s our little queen of the pack.

“Then there’s Basil Blue, our ‘golden boy’ with a somewhat mysterious heritage. We think he’s a ‘Coltriever’ (a mix between a Collie and a Retriever), though a very expensive DNA test claimed he’s a Schnauzer! We’re pretty sure the swabs got mixed up in the lab! Basil came to us from a rescue site in Grabouw after being removed from a neglectful situation at just five weeks old, barely able to eat solids. From the moment we saw his bright blue eyes, we knew he was meant to be part of our family. He quickly became my little office companion, accompanying me to work until he was old enough to stay home.

“Now, Basil has grown into a big-hearted goofball who loves Pepper with all his might, though he can’t resist teasing her by stealing her ball and then promptly losing interest. Food and making new furry friends are his two favourite things in the world, and his goofy, loving nature has won over everyone he meets.

“Together, Pepper and Basil Blue make the perfect pair – a little bit of sass, a lot of love, and endless entertainment. We couldn’t ask for better rescue pups!”

Michelle Stokes shares Jimmy Kayser Stokes, who was adopted from Hilltop Animal Outreach

“Jimmy Kayser Stokes was found running like the wind down the road after breaking loose from his chains.

“He’d been extremely abused, his tail and ears had been cut off, he’d been beaten, had terrible mange and had wire and a chain embedded in his neck – all this and he was only about eight months old. After a long, tiring chase, he was caught.

“I immediately fell in love with the scruffy little mongrel in a photo on Hilltop Animal Outreach’s Facebook page and just had to have him.

“He was very wary at first and very traumatised, but slowly he came out of his shell and began to trust again.

“He’s turned into the most beautiful handsome chap, loveable, caring, soft – a gentle soul with a heart of gold. He’s a real Mom’s Boy and likes nothing more than cuddling and giving kisses. ‘Jimmy, the
day you broke free was the best day for both you and me. I thank God every day for you. Not just a little brown dog, but my Designer Dog.’”

Glitter (left) and Magenta

Duncan and Luna share Magenta and Glitter

“We adopted Magenta in January 2021, during the Covid pandemic. She was the last of the eleven puppies in the “colour” litter (thus her name); her mother and the litter were rescued by TEARS.

“Glitter was adopted in August of the same year from Rescue is Life. Her mother was named Twinkles and her brother Glint, and when I saw her profile online I thought she might be a good sister for Magenta.

“We’re a close family and they’ve become a bit of a sister team. We do a lot of walks around Cape Town together. I’m always taking photos of them and they’re the subject of an ongoing photo project I’ve created about them. I think they’ve learned to pose!

“We love Magenta and Glitter both dearly and honestly can’t really imagine our lives without them now, despite the challenges. Magenta lost her back left leg at the hip when she was a year old, which was quite a traumatic event, and though the healing process took some time, she’s an incredibly mobile and active and friendly tri-paw and absolutely loves meeting new friends. Most people on walks don’t notice she’s missing her leg.

“Glitter has times when she’s a very anxious little doggo – no doubt she had some trauma in her early life – and is fiercely protective of our family pack, which can provide challenges when new people visit us. But we’ve learnt that patience and lots of love and reassurance (and some basic training) is the best way to solve this.

“I’m luckily able to work from home and so spend a lot of time with our girls, and am attentive to their needs. Magenta and Glitter have really helped me change something key in my relationship with and understanding about animals in general; I’ve learned to see and connect with animals as persons and individuals and have become much more compassionate and aware of the debt we owe non-human animals that share the planet with us.”

Michelle Stokes shares Willow Grace, who was adopted from Hilltop Animal Outreach

“Willow Grace was found as a pup of about six months only being dragged by her back legs. She had severe mange and was very malnourished. I fell in love with her on a video clip posted by Hilltop Animal Outreach in East London of her dancing around the floor. I couldn’t wait to get her but had to wait until the mange was under control. She came to us weighing a mere 4kg, a tiny, thin, fragile little thing.

“Today she owns the house, bullies her brothers, and has us wrapped around her little paw. She’s everyone’s friend, and everyone is her friend. She doles out free kisses without even being asked. She also suffers from FOMO so is always front and centre of everything. She’s our sweet baby girl.”

Photo credit: Strike a Pose Studios, Left to right: Zulu, Cathy and Mukiwa

Gary Chomse shares Mukiwa and Zulu, who were adopted from K9 Rescue (Dubai)

“Mukiwa and Zulu are both (very old) rescues and very special to us as they are from Dubai! My wife, Cathy, and I lived and worked in Dubai from 2010 to 2012, and after getting married in 2010, I spent many hours convincing Cathy that we should get a rescue puppy. When she finally agreed, I started working on her to convince her that you should always get at least 2 puppies as they then keep each other occupied... Well, I won that one too, and we ended up going to K9 Rescue in Dubai and getting these two, Mukiwa and Zulu.

“We took them for basic training (Cathy's turn to convince me to do something as I have never taken any of my previous puppies to official dog training!).

“When I was transferred back to South Africa in 2012, we went through the process of bringing them back with us. We bought them their travel boxes 3 months before we left and were told to let them sleep in the boxes at night so they got used to them. This worked perfectly, and to this day that is still the place where they sleep every night and is their "safe place" when there is lightning and thunder, fireworks, etc.

“These two have been amazing dogs, and we love them to bits! Unfortunately, they are both starting to show signs of their age now, but they still love their walks in the park and around our area.

It's taken them some time to get used to the new little upstart, Chobe, in "their" house, but they're getting there!”

Michelle and Arnold Sachs share Juno, who was adopted from KittyCat Rescue

“In the last 12 months, I lost my 18-year-old soul cat and my 15-year-old heart cat. My Siamese cross rescue was desperately lonely, so we decided to start looking at animal welfare organisations for a kitten in need. In May, we found her through KittyCat Rescue in Springs.

“I saw her on Facebook and requested to adopt her but was told she was already taken. I was sad but decided to keep looking. Half an hour later I was told she wasn’t taken and if I wanted her, she was still available. We applied and were granted approval on my late mom’s birthday – a big sign for me as she loved cats and taught me everything I know about them.

“Little Juno came home on the 29th of June. She is named after the Goddess Juno, who was a fierce protector of women. The month of June is named after Juno.

“She is an absolute delight, has settled easily, and is so cute. Loves her food and being up high on the cat tree. She is tiny, so integrations with her big brother and sisters are going well, but in small bites, making it easier for her to process. We are so thrilled to have given a home to a deserving little rescue who is now living large in the lap of luxury. We can’t wait for her to be fully integrated into our home.”

Photo credit: Nat Gold ZA

Emily Craig shares Sammy

“Sammy, my firstborn and soul child. Fifteen years ago, he was born as the runt on a farm in Bellville. They were going to drown him and gave me 30 minutes to rescue him. I arrived in good time and we have been joined at the hip ever since!”

Street rescue Poppy, who was adopted by Ruby, Nadine, and Gregg, shares her story…

“I was cruising the streets and having a whale of a time but getting quite hungry and wasn't used to cars when I was picked up by some nice ladies who fed, bathed, de-flead me and found me a foster family who had only owned dogs before so weren't sure how to look after a cat.

“I was so little that they thought I may be a kitten but I'm already about 5 years old. I ate great food, played in the fun garden where I chased birds, lizards, and butterflies, protected my new space with my strong voice, and enjoyed my naps – and nights – inside.

“We got used to each other super quickly and are now very much in LOVE. They understand my meows, cuddle and kiss me a LOT, and play with me all the time. I get to sleep on whichever furniture I like, including on the puzzle board, and enjoy climbing in the cupboards. We all now can’t imagine our lives any other way as our little family is complete!”

Photo credit: Nat Gold ZA

Emily Craig shares Harley, who was adopted from HART (Helderberg Animal Rescue Team)

“Harley was abandoned 4 times and had bad parvo and tick bite fever when rescued. No one wanted him, but he is the most lovable, healthy, strong, incredible boy. He is 1 year old now and the love of our lives!”

Photo credit: Nat Gold ZA

Emily Craig shares Ruby

“We found Ruby in a bucket under the M3 highway! She is now 2 years old, the gentlest, most loyal girl, and her ‘daddy’s darling’”.

Lynette Nicholson shares Jagger, who was adopted from the SPCA

“We adopted Jagger (aged 1 year) a few weeks ago after he was left behind on a property when his previous owners moved. We are not too sure what his DNA is made up of, but perhaps some German Shepherd, some Border Collie, and some Golden Retriever. Whatever it is, he is the most delightful pup. It is like he has always been here and has crawled very deeply into our hearts.”

Nikki Harris shares Nimbus, who was adopted from Cape of Good Hope SPCA

“I adopted Nimbus in June 2017. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, I just knew I wanted a dog and I knew I’d know when I saw him/her – and that’s exactly what happened. It’s always so difficult going to these adoption centres and knowing you can only take one, wishing you could take them all, so I kept my head down and stayed focused on the thought that if my dog was there, I’d simply know, without doubt.

“All the dogs were barking, wagging their tails, jumping up and down as if to say ‘pick me, pick me!’. And then I saw Nimbus, lying down looking up at me with his incredible eyes that made me think of my husband. I had to have Nimbus. It was cast in stone in my mind that Nimbus Hound was coming home with me.

“He slotted in with our family life with absolute ease, as if he’d always been with us. Three months later, my husband passed away. Nimbus quite literally became my spirit dog; he’s not the most affectionate, but he knows when I need his affection, and when I do, he doesn’t leave my side, he sticks to me like glue, talks to me and has guided me through the deepest heartache I have felt to date.

“My hubby and I used to watch Game of Thrones together; Nimbus was our White Walker... I never finished that series after Malo died, just couldn’t.”

Jasmien Barron shares Ben, who was adopted from Animal Welfare Society of SA in Philippi

“After I lost my beloved dogs Sasha (14 years old) and Lilo (12 years old), just four months apart – Sasha passed in May 2022 and Lilo in September 2022 – we adopted Ben.

“The story of how his mom gave her all to keep her pups alive while she was starving to death just broke my heart and Ben pulled at my heart strings.

“He’ll turn two on the 12th of October, and our life is complete having him in it!”

David Hollingworth shares Jan, who was adopted from Oscar’s Arc

“Having moved house, my aim was always to get a buddy for Rita. I still can’t explain what drew me to Jan, but it did and the intro was absolutely perfect! None of us could quite believe it as we know that Rita isn’t the easiest dog.

“I’m the fourth adopter of Jan from Oscar’s Arc, and she’s only 14 months old!

“She’s a gem and my family is now complete.”

Heather Pieterse shares Meeko, who was adopted from CSI (Camdeboo Sterilisation Initiative)

“Meeko is a black Greyhound. Apparently he was an illegal hunting dog thrown out of a bakkie and must have been quite badly treated, as he was extremely submissive and reserved when I adopted him aged about three.

“Although submissive, he wasn’t easy to train like a Labrador, for example, because I didn’t understand Greyhound language at that stage. I came to realise that like many Greyhounds, he carefully considers the merits of obeying! He taught me that perfect obedience was seldom a necessity, as we’d both compromise.

“He’s 11 this year and is a perfect gentleman and my soulmate. We understand each other perfectly through body language and, honestly, knowing what the other is thinking. Now that he’s older and set in his ways, he sometimes vocally demands action from me (‘come to bed, mom’) or his adoptive brother dog (‘get off my bed’) with a single bark. We comply, because, frankly, we adore him!”

Photo credit: Nat Gold ZA

Nikki Harris shares Comet

“I adopted Comet from a lovely family who emigrated to New Zealand five years ago. I'm still in touch with them and give them updates of little Comet. She’s my eldest son’s other half; she literally sleeps inside his hoodie with him.

“Comet is the most talkative and affectionate girl, but I honestly didn’t think she’d come forward for photos with Natalie – she tends to hide with new voices about – but she seemed to enjoy the camera for a brief moment whilst we did our best to lure old Lord Louis, his majesty.

“She isn’t really a rescue as such, but wow are we grateful to have her. My eldest actually said to me a few nights ago, ‘Mom, if anything happens to Comet, I don’t know what I’ll do!’ Those two have a wonderful bond. Comet had a strong connection with the boy from the previous family too. They were so sad to part with her, and I can understand why. They’d initially wanted to take her with them but decided against the stress of a move to NZ for her.”

Mark Smith shares Marley, who was adopted from Bella’s Guardian Angels – Animal Rescue

“Marley joined us four years ago as a teeny eight-week-old. Still today he thinks he’s eight weeks young.

“He’s very mischievous and an absolute clown, but the most loving loyal young chap you could imagine. He loves children and adults alike, and he’s a much-loved huge part of the family.”

Hilette Hatting shares Enzo

“My hubby, Ruan, has always wanted a Rough Collie, but we only wanted to adopt from a shelter, so we always kept an eye out for one. After 18 years together, a Rough Collie was suddenly surrendered to Save a Pet.

“It was love at first sight when we went to meet Enzo for the first time and we just knew he’d be the perfect addition to our family. He’s such a soft-natured, gentle guy that we were able to introduce him to our six indoor rescue kitties on the very first day already. Not even two weeks later, Enzo and the cats got brushed together; it’s as if it was meant to be!

“Although he suffers from separation anxiety and is still very unsure of himself, we’re working towards building up his confidence and giving him as much love as possible so he can have the perfect life he deserves!”

Photo credit: Des Featherstone Photography

Juliette Halse shares Pumpkin, who was adopted from The Wow Project

“I adopted Pumpkin at nine weeks old. She had zero fear and had zoomies 20 hours a day. Although she wasn’t the cuddliest little baby, she made up for it in cuteness overload. She’s obsessed with water and became very close to my other cat, Tigger. When Tigger passed away, Pumpkin was grief-stricken.

“For days, she didn’t zoom around anymore and wouldn’t eat. Three days into adopting Pengu and she was letting him attack her while being so gentle with him. The tables turned quickly for her.

“These two are chalk and cheese – complete opposites in every way – but together they have in a very short time become partners in crime. Pumpkin is simply adorable!”

Dalene Botha shares Maxi, who was adopted from Rescue, Rehab, Rehome – A Dog’s Life

“When we brought Maxi into our home to meet his two sisters, we were met by a few intense stares and flared nostrils for a number of hours from The Sisters (Oreo and Luna), indicating a ‘Ha! How could you?’. Needless to say, they all clicked really quickly, and from the very first day the girls could sense Maxi was here to stay.

“The rehoming was effortless and we couldn’t have found a more loving, happy and well-adjusted young boy who enjoys endless cuddles. He’s everything we wanted to love and so much more.

“His playful free-spirited nature brings such a wonderful dynamic to the family and keeps his sisters engaged for hours. They’re like a ‘wolf pack’.

“He loves chasing reflecting light from objects around the house and entertains himself with his ball on a string that he likes to bounce and flick. Maxi is super fond of his late morning snoozes.

“Maxi enjoys eating doggy biscuits and will come and ask for more. He even sneakily stole a sandwich off my plate, which he delightfully shared with his sisters. Sharing is caring, after all.

“Our hearts are fuller because of Maxi!”

Jeanne Basson shares Lila

“Lila’s owners were forced to move and she was well loved, but, at age nine, she had to be given up as, sadly, they couldn’t take her with them. This meant a new chapter for Lila and me...

“After nearly a year without a dog, my life’s been blessed with this adorable nine-year-old Border Collie, Lila. She came so fast to me, without a chance to think about it. It was a ‘yes’ before I even saw her, and when I met her, it was love at first sight!

“Every day is like a new day of finding out about this gorgeous little dog. I never would have dreamed that taking in an older dog could be this precious.

“Lila’s name means ‘bundle of joy’, and she’s just that! Please consider that golden oldie that’s in need of a home to be loved and cherished.”

Sacha Fraser shares Bear, who was adopted from Paws R Us SA

“Bear is a cuddly big bear, the sweetest boy who gets on with all other dogs and just loves attention and being warm.

“Olivier and Bear are best mates – they’re always in each other’s arms.”

Photo credit: Nicky’s Photography

Shanene Meiring shares Wouter, who was adopted from ODIN (Oudtshoorn Dogs In Need)

“We adopted Wouter when he was five months old; he’s now three-and-a-half years old. Wouter is a Border Collie mix. He loves to go for walks and loves swimming in dams and rivers; he’s very energetic and loves to be chased every half hour.

“We absolutely adore him because he brings us so much joy!”

Photo credit: FidoPhoto – Dog Photography

Yvonne Jansen shares Luca, who was adopted from Border Collie Rescue South Africa

“Luca was 15 months when I adopted her in May 2015. She’s so pretty, energetic and cuddly.

“She turned 10 on the 1st of March. I thought she was the most ‘normal’ one of my animals, but in fact, three years ago, the vet concluded that she’s a hermaphrodite.

“All my animals are rescues, and she’s best friends with Noah.”

Lauren Námer shares Fergie, who was adopted from A New Hope Dog Rescue

“As a couple who only adopt senior animals, we wanted to give another senior a chance to have a wonderful retirement home after sadly losing one of our seniors to cancer a few months prior. My heart dropped when I saw a photo of Fergie (previously named Tiggie) on Facebook, and saw that she was still waiting after many years of being at the shelter. I’d even shared her profile on my page two years earlier.

“She was now 13 and had always been overlooked due to being a senior with some chronic health conditions, so we contacted A New Hope Dog Rescue and it was love at first sight when we picked her up. Well, I don’t need to see them, I just know I’ll love them for who they are, but it was wonderful meeting her and bringing her home.

“As usual, our other seniors accepted her beautifully and she’s settled in extremely well. She adores her walks and sleeping under the covers. She’s an incredibly sweet little girl and copes so well with all of her medications and treatments. Although we cannot fathom how people abandon their seniors, we’re very grateful to the shelter for helping her, and we’re so thankful that we’re able to give her all she needs medically and to see her thrive in her geriatric years.

“Adopting a senior is a gift – a gift to them in their real hour of need, and a gift to yourself. It’s truly such a rewarding thing to do, and we’ll continue to adopt seniors and cherish and celebrate them, as they should be.

“Please share rescue animals’ profiles on Facebook, it really does saves lives, and if you’re in a position to help a senior animal, enquire at your local shelter or check out the rescue pages on Facebook that show all the special seniors waiting for their retirement homes.”

Sacha Fraser shares Ariel, who was adopted from 4Paws

“Ariel was the smallest dog at the shelter, and when I sat down, she climbed into my lap and wouldn’t let go. So I took her home to foster her, but she became a foster fail!

“She loves her mommy. She’s a strange little girl, doesn’t like being picked up. If she plays, it has to be on her terms, and she hates kisses. But she’s my girl and she knows that. She’s sweet in her way and I love her dearly.

“I’ve had her for nearly 10 years now.”

Photo credit: Jackie Wernberg Photography

Louise Nell shares Hannah, who was adopted from Animal Anti-Cruelty League (Epping)  

“Hannah has been with me for almost 10 years. She’s a gentle soul and often helps dogs and humans that are in distress by being extra kind and gentle.  

“I so appreciate how Hannah is always able to detect when a human needs extra TLC, be it after a tough day at work or a random stranger who’s suffered loss… She definitely has a special ESP that she’s able to tap into to help others.”

Katherine Lindsay shares Mushka, who was adopted from LEAPS

“Mushka arrived in January after a long journey from the Cape.

“After some jitters (from her and our other doggies) in the early days, she’s settled incredibly well into her life on an avo farm in Tzaneen, Limpopo.

“She’s learnt to swim and loves long runs and walks on the farm. She doesn’t leave my side and protects our little baby from the dangers of the world.”

Sacha Fraser shares Bear, who was adopted from Paws R Us: SA

“I originally took Bear in to foster, but he became a foster fail and his home is with us. He’s the sweetest boy; when I get home from work, he smiles at me and is just a real teddy bear. We adore him and he fitted in from the start. He loves soft toys and playing. He just has the sweetest nature.

“I bought him a jersey the other day which he loves; he struts around the garden and lies stretched out on the couch.”

Ilse Smit shares Lela, who was rescued as a stray.

“Lela, a pure-bred Great Dane, was rescued off the street, scrounging for food. I was asked if I could help to take her on, so I collected her on the 8th of January. She was in a very bad condition.

“We started to build her weight up slowly, and within six weeks she picked up weight so nicely and started to look like a stunning Great Dane. And now, four months later, she’s one beautiful girl with the most amazing coat.

“She’s the sweetest girl. Her name, Lela, means ‘black beauty’, and that’s what she is, a precious girl with a loving attitude.”

Claire Macintosh shares Keanu, who was adopted from TEARS

“This is my hooligan, Keanu (aka Potato). April is his two-year anniversary of being adopted.

“I adopted him as a four-month-old pup from TEARS in Cape Town. He’s deaf and has two deaf sisters: seven-year-old Pit Bull Luna (adopted from AACL in Cape Town) and five-year-old Boxer Nova (adopted from Wollies Animal Project in Pretoria).

“On the 12th of April, I picked him up from the airport and he very quickly became my very special boy. He’s my shadow and is always near me. His quirky habit is to have one of his feet touching me whenever he’s near (which is always!).

“Keanu arrived as a squishy, huggable baby who’d been with an amazing foster Mom (Lian Ansteyl). He’d attended doggy day-care in Cape Town (Bow Wow Pets) and had already learned some manners and was super social.

“He’s still huggable, squishy and super social. He has many buddies (other than his sisters) as we live on a farm with other dogs, horses, chickens and a duck.”

Sacha Fraser shares Carly, who was adopted from Paws R Us: SA

“Paws R Us: SA had put out a plea for a foster home for Carly as she was an elderly dog. I went in to meet her at the kennels in Midrand; she was tiny and shivering in the cold as it was winter.

“As soon as the home check was approved, I took in Carly and a little Yorkie cross that came from the same home. I was told that their human dad had passed away. I simply couldn’t leave the little boy behind, so I decided to foster both of them even though I already had five other dogs, all rescues.

“And the rest, as they say, is history… Carly has been with us for almost a year now and she’s the sweetest little girl who loves her tennis ball the most.

“P.S. We adopted the little boy too!”

Photo credit: Jackie Wernberg Photography

Louise Nell shares Monkey, who was adopted from PlumPets Animal Shelter

“Monkey is the matriarch of our pack and has been with me for just over 10 years now. She was found on the side of the road and rescued by the PlumPets Animal Shelter.

“Monkey’s favourite treat is definitely hooves filled with liver spread, and she has a particular fondness for cheddar cheese.”

Michelle van der Merwe shares Ecko

“Ecko has been a member of our family for just over a year. Last year January we lost our English Bulldog boy at only two years old and we were heartbroken. One evening whilst scrolling through Facebook, we came across a post of a family looking to rehome their pup. We responded to the post, and from there it was just meant to be.

“They were sad to let him go, but their reasons were what was best for him. We met him, our girls were in love instantly, and our new pup was home. We decided on the name Ecko – our hurt hearts put out the call for healing, and the powers that be answered with him.

“Although we’re not sure exactly what mix of pup he is, he’s definitely the best one-year-old boy with a beautiful personality (and isn’t he gorgeous!) that loves to ‘woo woo woof’.

“Some days we think it’s our angel boy that sent Ecko to us, and other days we feel it could be our angel boy in a different form. Our babies really do have our hearts!”

Megan Shorey shares Spud, who was adopted from Louis Trichardt SPCA

“Spud came into our lives at the most critical time for our family. It was about eight months post-hard Covid lockdown towards the end of 2020 and we’d recently faced the devastating loss (acute illness) of our beloved miniature Bull Terrier, Max. Our hearts were sore and our home seemed empty. I was keen to adopt this time, not go through a breeder. Then I spotted one-year-old Spud (then named Baxter) on a Louis Trichardt SPCA post shared by Adora-bull Bull Terrier Rescue on its Facebook page, and although he was much bigger than our mini Max, the resemblance was uncanny. The pics and write-up of Spud on the SPCA post revealed a playful clown who desperately needed to be out of kennels. He was destined for our family.

“Unfortunately, Louis Trichardt isn’t an easy drive from our home in Durban and SPCA rules are that you have to fetch your adopted dog in person. So we made a plan to make the 11.5-hour drive to Limpopo to meet, and hopefully return with, Spud. He was worth every kilometre of that journey there and back. Even though he was understandably a bit unsettled at first, he soon relaxed into his new home and is loved by not only us but by all visitors to our home, young and old, and especially those with previously held misconceptions about the English Bull Terrier breed. He’s become a great ambassador for the breed, with guests wrapped around his paw within minutes.

“He’s loving and friendly (albeit stubborn), does typical Bullie ‘zoomies’ at least once a day, loves mealtimes, his daily walks (and naps!), and just hanging with his humans. He’s spoilt in that he’s never on his own at home so has attention and company pretty much 24/7. He enjoys car rides, chasing geckos and frogs, and curling up in our cool bath tub when it just gets too hot during Summer.

“Spud is the quintessential endearing, comical and loyal Bull Terrier – the best of a brilliant breed!”

Dogs left to right: Leo, Pirate, Nala, Bob and Raph with good friend Jen (left), and Kim (right)

Kim Selvan shares Raph, Leo & Bob, who were adopted from TEARS, and Pirate, who was “inherited”

“Raphael (the large, brown dog with one front white foot and the black one) and Leonardo, now known as Raph and Leo, are brothers whom I adopted from TEARS in 2016. They were brought in to TEARS as three-year-olds with their other brother, Donatello, after their owner left them behind when they moved to the Eastern Cape. Yes, they were named after the three Ninja Turtles! Donatello was adopted shortly after arriving at TEARS, but Raph and Leo waited just over a year before I adopted them.  

“The last of my three Labradors, Jedd, died in October 2016 from cancer and my house felt extremely empty. Being a TEARS dog walking volunteer, I’d gotten to know Raph and Leo well and fell in love with them. I instantly knew they would fit into my house and my lifestyle perfectly. We did an initial introduction with Pirate, which went very well, and then started with sleepovers on Saturdays until I could officially adopt them in mid-December, when I was able to take my annual leave to ensure I was home to properly let them settle in. I needn’t have worried, though, because they settled in immediately and have been an absolute joy from day one. They’re extremely well socialised with dogs and people alike, which fitted in with my lifestyle as I’ve always liked to walk with my group of friends and their dogs.

“Bob was found with his brother, Dylan, in the Clovelly wetlands as teeny puppies and were brought in to TEARS. Dylan was adopted soon afterwards, but poor Bob was overlooked time and again and was 10 months old when I adopted him. He’s a super puppy whom I call my little ‘wiggly worm’ because his entire body wiggles from side to side when he gets excited, which is almost all the time.  

“Pirate is the little Jack Russell whom I inherited from my tenant when they moved out about 12 years ago; he’s either 14 or 15 years old now. He’s a real character whom everyone loves and adores. He can’t quite keep up with the ‘big boys’ anymore, but that doesn’t stop him from trying and wanting to join each and every walk and adventure we go on. He still gets the ‘zoomies’ from time to time, especially on the beach, which he loves.  

“With their wonderful natures and being so accommodating with dogs of all shapes and sizes, it was very easy to adopt the ‘puppy’ Bob in November 2022. Raph, Leo and Pirate happily accepted Bob into the ‘pack’. Bob adores his brothers and the feeling is mutual. Bob especially loves Raph, who’s a hero in Bob’s eyes. Raph is very adventurous and finds all the ‘good’ spots on our outings, especially squirrels in the forest or on the Fish Hoek sports fields, and Bob follows him everywhere, just like an annoying little brother. The three ‘big boys’ get on exceptionally well and play beautifully together. Raph and Leo have also helped Bob to get over some of his anxiety and nervousness, which is fantastic. I’m loving watching Bob’s personality grow and seeing him become more and more confident.”  

Editor’s note: ...And then came Nala... read Nala’s Happy Tale here.

Photo credit: Nat Gold ZA

Anthea Rickard shares Kyle, who was adopted from Oscar’s Arc Woof Project

“Some months after my 15-plus-year-old GSD had died, I started looking around for an older, cat-friendly dog. I saw a picture of a dog on the Hermanus Animal Welfare (HAWS) site and he just spoke to me. I enquired about him and discovered that law enforcement had picked him up on the R43 and taken him to HAWS. I was still working and their hours were a bit difficult, but I was in contact with them to arrange to see him – when he got snapped up by WOOF – so he went from Buddy at HAWS to Kirk Douglas at Woof. I went and met him at Woof at the Waterfront.

“He was really skinny and had a very thin coat and shuffled along like an old man. HAWS had described him as a ‘gentle and intelligent soul who just wants to please’ – and that gentle soul was very evident, even in his compromised condition. They said he was brought in in a very neglected state and his nails had been so long that his toes were all splayed and he couldn’t walk properly. We just cannot imagine how he landed up neglected and starving on the R43, but we’re grateful to the traffic officers who took him to safety and to the rescue organisations that set about rehoming him.

“Kyle came home and settled in very quickly, really responding to having his own family and home. He talks a lot – to his friends on walks; to the cat; when his meals are not exactly on time – about life in general! He’s our dearest teddy bear and we’re so blessed to have him as part of our family.

“Kyle has been with us for four years now and shares our family with our more recent rescue, Skylar.”

Bernice Mong shares Biscuit

“In November 2023, a young lady contacted me requesting to borrow my TNR feral cat traps to trap a mommy cat and her kittens at a local school in the area where she’s staying. She managed to trap the mommy and her kittens and took them into her care as the kittens were still drinking.

“Once the kittens were big enough, she had the mommy cat sterilised and managed to find her a home, and four of the seven kittens were homed. When she brought the traps back, she let me know she was still looking for homes for three of the kittens. I asked to see photos of the remaining kittens and I immediately fell in love with little Biscuit.

“I decided that, even though I already had six cats and wasn’t looking to get another cat, I thought ‘what’s one more?’ and decided to take Biscuit. So that’s how little Biscuit joined the family.”

Deborah Filmater shares Jet, who was adopted from SPCA Roodepoort

“I was an unclaimed stray in the kennels for a long, long time. My mom can’t understand why, as she says I’m the most handsomest, bestest boy ever. I guess we were just waiting for each other.

“I needed a family who loves me unconditionally and mom needed me to help her heart heal after losing my sister I never got the chance to meet. We’re definitely a match made in heaven.”

Nina Greyling shares Klaus Mouse

“Klaus Mouse was found in a bush in town at about six weeks old. He had rickety, bandy legs and was very sick with tick bite fever. He fought hard to survive. We then discovered he’s completely blind.

“That doesn’t stop him. He climbs trees and gets on the roof, and he loves his snacks and all his toys.”

Sarah Wilson shares Lucy, who was adopted from Johannesburg SPCA

“Lucy was just meant to be with us. She’s a real daddy’s girl, but when I tell people she’s very funny, very naughty but very sensitive, they say ‘Just like her mom!’.

“She has a noise phobia, especially with cars. It’s taken a lot of work, but she’s come on in leaps and bounds. Literally.

“Lucy is a treasure and I can’t believe how lucky we are to share her life with her.”

Photo credit: Nat Gold ZA

Sarah Bouwer shares Tchaikovsky (Tchaiky for short), who was adopted from Cat Trapping in the Winelands

“Tchaiky was rescued as a kitten by Cat Trapping in the Winelands. I chose him because of his little moustache and he was the last of his litter remaining waiting for a home!

“When I brought him home it was clear that he was a complete character. There was no shyness or hiding under the bed; he immediately started exploring his new home like he owned the place. I was slightly taken aback by how talkative he was, but now I’m used to his constant chatting. Despite his clear bold and adventurous nature, he’s also extremely affectionate as he quickly bonded to me and decided I was his person.

“He loves being out in the garden enjoying wild and exciting adventures, but gets especially excited when I decide to join him. He accompanies me whenever I go outside and comes to greet me the second he hears the jingle of my keys when I get home. Although it seemed he wanted to be a spoilt only cat, he eventually conceded that he’d share my affection with his new sister, Biscuit. She adores him and loves to copy him and follow him around. They love to play together, often chasing each other around the apartment when the evening zoomies hit.”

Lauren Maxwell shares Max

“Max is a two-year-old Husky with a bright, bubbly personality but not much of a voice. Max was found wandering the streets as a tiny puppy in Langa and brought to me to foster for a little while as he needed to be bottle-fed. However, when the time came for Max to go to his new home, I couldn’t let him go, and he’s been with me ever since.

“Max has grown into a slightly smaller-than-average, but full-of-life young boy who loves nothing more than going for a gentle stroll or a swim in a pond. (No beaches, though. The salt water is yucky.) During the day, Max observes the birds and occasionally kitties that enter his yard to lounge.

“Unlike most Huskies, Max has never really found his voice and is a silent observer most of the time, unless he REALLY needs you to know something (like you’re five minutes late taking him for his walk, or you have a treat you haven’t given him fast enough).

“On our walks, Max loves nothing more than greeting every human he sees and judging the other dogs that bark at him along the way. Silent Max never barks back and never responds to an aggressive bark or snarl. Unfortunately, because Max is a Husky, he isn’t always greeted with kindness by other humans, but when they do, he lavishes on the attention.”

Ansia Els shares Goofy, who was adopted from Highveld Horse Care Unit

“We welcomed HHCU Ford Perfect to the family on the 15th of July 2020, a week after taking a visit to Highveld Horse Care Unit for my 12th birthday.

“A year-and-a-half-later, we joined LinRowe stables to pursue our competitive career. Within our first year, we’d gone from poles on the ground to the Junior 1m classes. 2022 instilled the confidence in our partnership and showcased only very little of what was to come. We were the Junior 90cm Gauteng SASJ challenge overall winner of 2022! In 2023, not only did we achieve the goal I’d set at the beginning of 2022 for us, but our partnership became rock solid. Throughout the year, on our way to the 1.20s, we won two championship classes and picked up a few placings too. On the 26th of November we competed in our first 1.20 show.

“I’ve never felt such a feeling, and to know that we’d achieved that together was so special; Goofy and I were truly partners that day! I cannot wait to see what we can do in 2024.

“Goofy is the very representation of his nickname – he’s an extremely sensitive soul but truly has a winning spirit. He’s got quite the personality and has a very quirky side, but he always wants to do the best he can. He never says no and would quite literally walk through fire for his rider.

“He’s the best first horse a girl could ask for. I couldn’t ask for a better horse with which to have started my Junior career.”

Alycia Goedvolk shares Kei

Photo credit: Robynne Prinsloo Photography

“One would think that the saying ‘being in the right place at the right time’ is unlikely, if ever, meant to refer to being in a shebeen in a township after midnight on a Saturday night, but in Mkulu Kei’s case, it was exactly that. We were having a braai at some friends down the road when, inexplicably, the beer ran out. This being the Wild Coast, options were few. In fact, the only option to replenish them was to pop into the local shebeen a few kilometres away, which the men apparently thought was a good idea. They were gone a while, and when they came back they had the beers, sure, but they also had two tiny fur balls who’d been living outside in the rain, running the very real danger of being trampled underfoot by shebeen patrons. Being constitutionally incapable of turning away an animal in need, we decided that I’d take one and my friend the other.

“They were no more than six weeks old and required constant care and attention, but somewhere along the line I did something wrong, because nothing has changed except that he’s now five years old. It’s my own fault – it was winter when he came and I let him sleep with me in my bed and fussed over him as if he were my own new-born baby.

“He’s now the fastest hound on the beach, as well as being in possession of a textbook case of a passive-aggressive personality, which means he gets whatever he wants whenever he wants it, and I now sleep on my pillow at the top right-hand corner of a king-sized bed, while he and his friends get a solid 10-hour sleep nightly and I slowly develop sciatica and chronic insomnia.”

Anrich Ligthelm and Pieter Black share Charlie, who was adopted from Friends of CARE Animal Welfare Society

“The initial encounter with Charlie occurred on the main road of McGregor where he was in a very bad condition, marking the moment we realised this young pup had found a home. Although there was some initial stress, fearing he might want to run away, it didn’t take long for Charlie to assert himself in his new environment. Gradually, he took charge, familiarising himself with our surroundings and bonding effortlessly with our staff, displaying nothing but love.

“Three months down the line, Charlie boasts a coat that shimmers like a diamond, showcasing not only his physical well-being but also his affectionate and obedient nature. Each day we have the privilege to look after him he delves deeper into the chambers of our heart.

“A heartfelt appreciation goes out to Friends of CARE and their dedicated team for making the adoption process seamless. Above all, we extend our gratitude to the McGregor community for their unwavering support in ensuring the well-being of all animals in a compassionate manner.”

Lanie van der Berg shares Luna, who was adopted from Wellington SPCA

“Luna, my playful kitty, is a real live wire! She’s about four months old, and this cuddly furball is always exploring, her nose is a super sniffer, no time for eating alone with her in the house – she eats a lot.

“She loves her toys, always attacking them. She sometimes thinks I’m her scratch-pole...! She’s just so cute. We fell in love with her the moment we set eyes on her and she rules the house!

“Luna’s purring is so beautiful and her snuggles are the best. When I wake up, she snuggles herself into my arms.

“We really love her and enjoy her silliness!

“Thanks Wellington SPCA for bringing this furry tornado of fun into our lives.”

Kerry Scott shares Bailey, who was adopted from SPCA Roodepoort Krugersdorp

“Bailey she was adopted on the 31st of July 2018. She’s just the sweetest little girl and loves everyone.”

Photo credit: Robynne Prinsloo Photography

Alycia Goedvolk shares Keiko

“Keiko Milano was one of only three puppies who survived her stray mother’s labour. No one knew until after someone had taken the clearly in-pain mom to a vet that her hips weren’t widening due to having been hit by a car at some point years before, so the birth was traumatic and the puppies were starved of oxygen. After the birth, the mom didn’t produce any milk, so the surviving pups had to be hand-reared from day one.

“I took Keiko with me everywhere in a dog bag equipped with special puppy milk formula and blankets to keep her warm and cold wipes to keep her cool; she was so tiny that she had no internal temperature regulation system yet.

“Today, four years and 35kg later, she’s a force of nature and imagines herself the queen of the beach, and I’m not disagreeing with her on this particular point.”

Cayla Gomes and Devon Worrall share Sage, Basil and Mint, adopted from HART (Helderberg Animal Rescue)

“We went to HART Animal Welfare in Somerset West with the intention of adopting one, maybe two, kittens and ended up taking a whole litter of three home with us. They’d been rescued from living in a crack in a wall behind a bank.

“Sage, Basil and Mint have the most incredible bond and we just couldn’t leave one of them behind. It just means that it’s three times more love, playtime, zoomies and, of course, endless cuddles, and we’re so excited to have them join our family!”

Photo credit: Tiny Toes Photography

Marja Vorster shares Cleo, who was adopted from Boggle & Brux Rescue

“We adopted Cleo in June 2022. Cleo loves stashing her food. She’s our little cheeky rat.”

Photo credit: Strike a Pose Studios

Dido Blagden shares Ozzie

“Ozzie, my Gumby look-alike Womble.

“A friend who’s a behaviourist shared Ozzie to my Facebook page and tagged me, saying: ‘Look; another Gumby,’ in January 2021. Gumby was my Paws for People Therapy dog (we did visits to many schools, old-age homes, hospitals, etc.) and, oh, I still missed him terribly.

“On the 7th, I collected Ozzie as a foster (hahaha ja… Really?!). When I arrived to see him I could see Gumby in his face, but other than that he was really a huge, woolly Rastafarian Basset.

“When people ask his breed I say: Womble.

“Ozzie had landed in Maltese, French Poodle & Yorkie Rescue South Africa with three or four ‘siblings’ who were all Daxies or Yorkies. He was very bonded with a little brown Dachshund, Milo – originally they said the two had to be rehomed as a pair. Sadly, all his ‘siblings’ got adopted (including Milo) but Ozzie was left behind. Being so big compared with all the other dogs in the shelter, he was constantly overlooked, and he eventually stopped trying. He was there for six months. He assuaged his helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness with food and became obese.

“Ozzie is a jolly chap who keeps everyone in line. He’s quick to calm anyone whose playfulness gets too energetic. Like Gumby, he doesn’t tolerate bullies or tomfoolery!

“Having trimmed down and filling his hole of need with love, he’s healthy, happy and full of joie de vivre! He has also, most certainly, helped fill the void my Gumby left behind. And start from his face, he also has the heart of Gumby and many of his traits!”

Dido with three of her five “packlings” – left to right: Ozzie, Suzi and Herbie

Photo credit: Emily Lime Photography

René Loest shares Pippie, who was adopted from PAWS (Potch Animal Welfare Society)

“Pippie is the spoilt (in a good way) little dog every family has. Like the youngest child that could get away with anything. My husband was very much against us getting another dog, especially a small dog, as he didn’t think of himself as a ‘small dog person’. I remember the day I brought Pippie and her siblings home to foster – my husband said: ‘We aren’t keeping any of them.’

“She was nicknamed ‘Dora the Explorer’, because she was a handful as a puppy; we had to be aware of her whereabouts constantly. She stole my husband’s heart one day when I had to work and he had to babysit her. She’s now ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’.

“Because she grew up with medium to large dogs, she thinks of herself as a big dog and doesn’t shy away from a challenge. She loves visiting her grandmothers because they hand out an abundance of treats and kisses.”

Aly Goedvolk shares Lola

“Working as a medic, one often finds strange things in strange places, so I was in no way surprised one night to find that the howling we could hear from where we’d parked the ambulance was in fact a mother cat and her clutch of six starving, wet kittens, living in the drains. As we had no calls at that moment, we dismantled the drain and got all the cats out. We took them to whom one may be justified in calling ‘that crazy cat lady’, because one honestly couldn’t walk in her house or garden without tripping over a rescued cat.

“I kept in touch with the lady and, once the kittens were weaned about ten weeks later, I returned to the madhouse of cats to adopt one of the kittens. She’d just had the mom sterilised and miraculously found homes for all the kittens, mine being one.

“Lola is now nearly three; she’s rather aloof, but friendly if approached with caution, and loves to play with her ‘big brother’, Diesel, both of whom don’t do much more than sleep, as is a cat’s wont.”

Kerry Scott shares Roxy Rue, who was adopted from LCARA (Linmeyer Community Animal Rescue Association)

“My Goofball Roxy Rue – I adopted her when she was four months old on the 1st of October 2021. She fitted in from day one.”

Photo credit: Bezdt Photography

Megan Robertson shares Lucian, who was adopted from Wollies Animal Project

“Lucian (then named Amos) was born in October 2017, and was in the care of a foster home on behalf of Wollies Animal Project.

“Two days before they’d have sent him to the shelter, my cat lady heart fell in love. He went from being unwanted to living in the lap of luxury. He’s an absolute star to our home and a joy to his six other siblings.

“Lucian is my loving little shadow; he follows me everywhere.”

Lesley Ferreira shares Charly-boy, who was adopted from SPCA Durban

“My darling Charly-boy is about nine-and-a-half years old. It truly was ‘love at first sight’ for me.

“Having had two precious Maltese dogs previously who’d passed from old age, and then adopting bigger dogs thereafter, a few years later I still wanted another Maltese. I kept looking through the SPCA adoption page and, one day, this ‘Maltese’ caught my eye; I just fell in love with this doggie and knew he was meant for me! By that stage we already had three big dogs but loads of room in our hearts to get another dog.

“I called the SPCA and asked to meet him and was so surprised when this ‘Maltese’ on ‘stilts’ came through. He was definitely not a Maltese! However, my youngest son was with me and he fell in love with him, and so we went through the process and adopted him. SPCA said he was approximately a year old. They called him Boomer at the SPCA, but that name never suited him and he wouldn’t respond to it. So we renamed him Charly-boy.

“We think Charly-boy is a soft-coated Wheaten terrier. He was a stray that had been brought in to the SPCA and never claimed. What they didn’t know was that he’s a ‘runner’! He’d escape any chance he had and it would be a mad dash chasing after him. He was also just too clever and knew how to open doors – he still does! We had to change the door leading from the garage to the house as he could open it and would go on a run as soon as we drove into the garage.

“He’s rambunctious but we love him to bits. He’s also very alert and warned us when we had an intruder breaking into the house. He’s very astute and when my brother passed away he sat beside me and licked all my tears for comfort. He’s always by my side or sleeping by my feet. He can be quite impossible to handle as he gets far too excited on road trips. He wants to chase storms away and fireworks really annoy him. Hadedas, starlings and monkeys drive him insane!

“He knows how to sit, lie down, shake a paw and will come to heel or stay (when it suits him). Sadly, he’s our only dog now as all the others have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Two years ago he had to have his spleen removed as it had a non-cancerous tumour. He’s still quite a handful at times and hates peoples to be on the other side of the gate and barks madly. He also hates it when people leave.

“He loves to go down to the beach and will happily run into the water – we keep him on a leash as we’re never too sure just how far he’ll run! We also have a pool with a very shallow step and whenever he wants to cool down he’ll just walk through the pool. He’ll sleep in our bed whenever it suits him, especially in the colder months. He loves to wait for either me or my hubby to get up during the night, and as soon as we do he sneaks our place and lies on our pillows. My family all love him and he’ll give them soppy eyes and sit next to them so that he can get scratches.

“Life wouldn’t be the same without my Charly-boy.”

Photo credit: Tiny Toes Photography

Marja Vorster shares Madame Fluffypants, who was adopted from Boggle & Brux Rescue

“We adopted Madame in March 2022. She loves her food and stuffs her cheeks to full capacity. She’s sweet-natured and very loving.”

Photo credit: Emily Lime Photography

René Loest shares Magriet, who was adopted from PAWS (Potch Animal Welfare Society)

“Magriet was in our second batch of fosters, a litter of six puppies. She had a wound at the top of her head where the ticks and fleas had started eating her flesh. From day one she was the scared, shy puppy. She wouldn't eat if there were loud noises around her, and she'd hide when we raised our voices a bit when praising the other dogs for good behaviour. We knew from the beginning that she'd have to go to a special home since she had a special personality. After all her siblings found their forever homes, we still had Magriet in foster care.

“After a few more weeks of searching for her family, we decided that she fits in perfectly with us; we know all her quirks and fears, and at that stage she and Seuntjie had such a bond that we couldn’t imagine her leaving our family. She loves her tennis ball – she’d play all day! She follows me like a shadow and has a great instinct for when someone is unwell. She’ll cuddle with them and try to make them well again in her own way. She’s a TV-watching dog and also takes part in conversations between my husband and me; she’ll turn her head from side to side, trying to hear every new word better.”

Natalina Chadinha Da Conceicao shares little Joey, adopted from Boksburg SPCA

“My family decided to adopt Joey after tragically losing our two dogs though a home invasion where they were poisoned. After losing our doggies our house felt empty. Something was missing.

“Adopting little Joey has brought back the spark into our lives. He’s so cute and has a vibrant personality that just suits our family down to the ground. A true blessing.”

Hobbs (left) and Forest

Kiah de Witt shares Forest and Hobbs, who were both adopted from ODIN (Oudsthoorn Dogs In Need)

“Forest and Hobbs are our gorgeous boys whom we recently adopted. (Forest has more white in his face, while Hobbs is a little more ginger.) We adopted Forest first and then went back and adopted his brother, Hobbs.

“The reason we got Forest first was because Hobbs was very ill when we first visited ODIN; luckily, he’s made a full recovery and has quickly started picking up weight again.

“I’ve never come across such beautiful and sweet-natured cats; both with such unique personalities. I swear both of them are part dog!

“Forest is such a majestic boy, he loves cuddling and is a typical Casanova – or, rather, ‘Cats-anova’, ha ha! His first instinct is to charm anyone he comes across. While slightly more aloof than Hobbs, he’s definitely much more social than most cats I’ve come across.

“Hobbs loves cuddling under the blankets with his human and tends to lie over our faces if not given 100% of someone’s attention.

“Both cats love being held like babies. They LOVE eating and definitely cannot be left unattended around ANY food! Forest and Hobbs barely needed two hours to claim our home as their own, and have quickly become little celebrities – each meow, purr and burst of zoomies is swooned over by everyone in the room.

“I’d love to also mention the immense love and gratitude adult cats show when adopted; many of them are overlooked in shelters as most people only want to adopt kittens. Just look at both of their loving Puss in Boots eyes – how could anyone say no to them?”

Simone Goosen shares Lala, adopted from Harrismith Animal Shelter, and Finn, adopted from Alcra Rescue

“We did it… AGAIN! Third Adoption from our family over the years.

“Lala, our Yorkie we adopted last year, is so beautiful! She’s the perfect fit for us and we’re so happy to love her.

“Our most recent pup, Finn, we adopted at nine weeks old from Alcra Rescue in Boksburg. He’s just so sweet and super tiny! He only weighs 900 grams at nine weeks old.

“He settled in well and just loves all the cuddles and doggy treats. My seven-year-old son is his daddy – you should hear the way he speaks to him like he understands every word.

“We’re over the moon that we got approved and can now give this little fluff ball a loving home.”

Kerry Scott shares Babe, who was adopted from animal rescuer Kerstin Fuchsloch

“Her name is Babe, but I call her Fatty. I adopted her on the 25th of April 2018. Babe’s previous owner felt it unfair to keep Babe home alone all day because she worked a lot. Her previous owner still keeps in contact with me.

“Babe is such an easy little dog, she minds her own business and does her own thing but knows exactly when it’s her snack time.”

Photo credit: Emily Lime Photography

René Loest shares Seuntjie, who was adopted from PAWS (Potch Animal Welfare Society)

“Seuntjie was our very first foster from PAWS. He had diarrhoea and mange with almost no hair, and he weighed 500g and was very small. He was picked up in the township next to the road. We weren’t sure if he’d pull through and were at the vet a lot. I thought he was going to be a small-breed lap dog, so I started shopping for doggy ‘handbags’ when he was healthy so that we’d be able to take him everywhere. He stole our hearts with his big, wide smile and grew to be 25kg!

“He’s healthy and enjoys running and being chased; he always greets everyone with a big howl and then runs to the toy crate to grab a toy and bring it to the guests to welcome them to our home.”

Jennifer Pillay shares Benji, who was adopted from the Randburg SPCA

“We adopted Benji in June 2020 in the middle of the Covid lockdown. He’d been surrendered in March 2020, just before lockdown, when he was only three months old. He demanded our attention when we met him, and we simply couldn’t resist! 

“Benji is a much-loved, spoilt boy who’s still working through some anxiety issues and taking it one step (one paw) at a time, and we’re looking forward to celebrating his fourth birthday in December 2023.”

Chantal Car shares Pebbles

“Pebbles was abandoned at two weeks old; he’d been left on a wet muddy towel by his mother, who’s a stray in our complex. As observers we waited for the mother to return to her baby, but she failed to do so. Crying, cold, wet, and scared, we made the decision to step in and rescue this little baby. We bottle-fed Pebbles till ten weeks old. He went everywhere with us; we had to teach him everything. 

“Today, at eight months old, he’s a happy little boy who owns our home and has stolen our hearts. He’s playful with an attitude and rules his kingdom, he loves to knock everything off tables and is curious about everything, and he needs to see everything and loves to eat everything. Get on his wrong side and he’ll shudder his mouth with a growl, but he can’t be left alone and needs our attention 24/7.

“As a baby, he went to a day mother while I was at work, and when he was older, I took two weeks off work to get him used to the house all day. I left him alone for the very first time when he was four months old with my helper. He’s totally spoilt and he deserves the best life ever.”

Ros Silke shares little Cassie, who was adopted from Rescue is Life

“Cassie was born on the 23rd of June 2023 and was rescued from Lavender Hill with all her siblings. She’s now just over three months old.

“Cassie is a friendly and playful puppy but is also very clever. She learnt her new name quickly, took easily to using the puppy training pads, and sits and waits for her treats.

“After losing my precious 14-year-old boy, Jonty, Cassie has already brought so much sunshine into our home.”

Photo credit: Tiny Toes Photography

Marja Vorster shares Yoda, who was adopted from Boggle & Brux Rescue

“We adopted Yoda in September 2022. Yoda is a little shy but comes out of her shell when there’s food near. She has the most peculiar dumbo ears.”

Chantal Car shares Skye

“Skye was collected from a home in Krugersdorp in April 2023. He was full of ticks and flees and had a bad case of ringworm all over his little body. He was seven weeks old when I adopted him from an organisation that puts rescues up for adoption. We took him in to our family and loved him unconditionally. The whole family got ringworm, but we couldn’t keep away from this beautiful soul. I counted 41 spots of ringworm on my own body, but we had a new family member that we loved dearly.

“Skye was rescued out of a storm water drain with four siblings. They all were close to death, cold and wet. It took a good three months for Skye to recover from his ringworm with weekly visits to our vet.

“Today he’s a strong, beautiful kitten with the cutest growl. He’s adopted us as his family, and we love him dearly.”

Katherine Fouche shares Max

“This little soul escaped from home, climbed halfway up Elsie’s Peak, and right into my life and my heart.

“While I initially searched for his owners (who were happy to rehome him), to then searching for someone to give him a forever home, it was too late. Fate intervened, and my heart was captured. From days and nights spent outdoors, he now lies in front of the heater and wags his tail every time our eyes meet. He’s the sweetest, most curious, loving being. Lucky me!”

Photo credit: Roxanne Zunckel of What a Treat

Alison Wood-Callander shares RedDog

“RedDog was adopted off Gumtree. The story with him is that when my daughter was at Rhodes University in Grahamstown she had a little ginger girl cat called Matilda, but she unfortunately died from Parvo. My daughter was, of course, devastated and so, before she came home to Cape Town for the holidays, I was desperate to get her another ginger cat to soothe her heart. 

“I saw an ad on Gumtree and jumped at the chance to adopt him. RedDog was adopted by me from a couple in Woodstock. Her husband was allergic to the cat, and that was the reason for rehoming him. He’d been adopted by them from DARG, where his original name was Mr Chips; his adopted name when I got him was Beau. He responded to neither names.

“At the time we had three rescue Border Collies, with whom he always used to hang out, hence his name, RedDog. We’re not sure of his exact age, but we guess he must be about 13 years old. We’ve had him since 2013.”

Photo credit: Roxanne Zunckel of What a Treat

Alison Wood-Callander shares Alaska (and Queenie)

“Queenie’s story is a little bit different. RedDog was on his own and I felt that he needed a friend. Again on Gumtree (sadly) I found this little kitten who looked so sickly and I felt I couldn’t leave her with the current owners. I contacted them and asked to see the kitty. They were very hesitant, saying that the cat was a little bit sick and they needed to get her better. I could see from the photos that they may have needed extra help, so I offered to take her, even though she was really sick, and to take her to the vet as they didn’t have the money to take her. 

“She was absolutely stunning. Very fluffy and with the biggest, bluest eyes. Just gorgeous. I took her to the vet and she slowly improved. With good food and lots of rest, she was on the mend, luckily. She was a playful little thing, but whenever she’d come inside my husband would say that she looked really blue around the mouth. I shrugged this off as him just imagining things because I’d never heard of that before.

“As time went by, I wanted to take her to the vet to be spayed. She was six months old and I didn’t want any unwanted kittens. In passing, I mentioned to the vet that my husband said that she was a little blue around the mouth, so maybe it was a concern, but before putting her under sedation she should just be aware. Expecting a phone call much later in the day, I was surprised to get a call an hour or two later. Dr Cathy Bezuidenhout said that when they checked her they found that there was something wrong with her heart. They suggested I take her to Alphen Vet to see the cardiologist there to scan her and determine what the problem was. 

“To cut a long story short, he waived the consultation fee as long as he could shave her little chest so that he could do an ultrasound for research purposes, because he was so intrigued by her case. He discovered that she had multiple holes in her heart and took lots of photos to show to students for educational purposes. Sadly, the kitten was inoperable, so I went home with her and planned to enjoy every minute with her. It wasn’t long after that, on one sunny morning, she died in the garden of a suspected heart attack. We were devastated. 

“I phoned the original owners as I knew that they couldn’t afford to spay their cat, Queenie’s mother, and asked whether she had any other kittens. Surprisingly, the owner had just had a baby who was allergic to the mother cat and she asked whether I’d like to take her as she had to give her up for adoption. I raced through and got what I thought was a domestic short-haired cat, Alaska. 

“Within months Alaska turned into the fluffiest, most beautiful cat I have ever seen. She was subsequently called Queen, as she’s definitely the queen of this house. So now our family is complete: Finn from Swellendam SPCA, Lily from Animal Welfare Helderberg (link to Lily’s Happy Tale), RedDog from DARG and Queenie from Brackenfell.”

Photo credit: Tiny Toes Photography

Marja Vorster shares Petunia, who was adopted from Boggle & Brux Rescue

“We adopted Petunia in February this year from Boggle & Brux Rescue. 

“She’s our little sweetheart and loves cuddles, treats and free-roaming time on the bed. Petunia is very loving and most inquisitive.”

Andrewla Karaolis shares My Boy

“At 3 AM in August last year, I woke up from a thud on my bed. I have three cats, but when I looked on my bed, I saw four cats! I looked again and saw something hanging off the side of the bed coming from the fourth cat, a stray. I pulled at this thing but it wouldn’t come off, so I switched on the light. To my shock this is what I saw:

“A beautiful cat caught in a snare. His leg was totally broken in half at the joint – he’d freed himself from the snare but broke his leg in the process and still had the snare on him. I sent Joanne Kontaxopoulos of Harties Feral Cat Rescue a message and, at about 7 AM, Joanne rushed to my house and took the cat to the vet, where they amputated his whole leg.

“Joanne released the cat to me after the amputation and he moved into our spare bedroom, where he remained for about two weeks.

“Today, a year later, he’s still with me.”

Photo credit: Roxanne Zunckel of What a Treat

Saxon Moore shares Kairo, who was adopted from HART (Helderberg Animal Rescue Team)

“Kairo is a rescue; we adopted her and Dice from the wonderful people at the Helderberg Animal Rescue Team (HART).

“She’s a super-energetic, confident and outgoing doggo. She's absolutely full of love and every person and dog must be greeted. When we go on our trail runs, she loves playing in the long grass and chasing the squirrels. She and Dice are very close and snuggle together during these cold winter nights when they aren’t tearing around the house. Never still, always playing and exploring. That's Kairo in a nutshell.”

Chantele Gouws shares Topaz, who was adopted from Kempton Park SPCA

“It was love at first sight when we adopted little Topaz in May 2023. She’s truly the spoiled youngest child in the family who sometimes forgets she’s a cat – she thinks she’s a princess.

“She finally gets along with her two older brothers we adopted two years ago. Our home is filled with kitty purrs and meow-y demands, but our hearts are overflowing with love.”

Vicki Hiscox shares Lupa and Akheela, who were adopted from Sighthound Rescue SA, and Jess, who was adopted from Greyhound Rescue

“Lupa is a Greyhound-Saluki cross. She’s the sweetest clown you’ve ever met, and she talks back to you and will continue to talk until you chat back to her. She’s an amazing swimmer and loves swimming, and is an excellent “detective” and can sniff anything and find anything underwater. She’s my water baby. Lupa can also run for hours without getting tired. All three of my babies are socialised and will play with any dog they see.

“Akheela is our Greyhound whom we adopted from Sighthound Rescue in Cape Town. Akheela came to us being very “head shy” and timid. She’s done a roundabout turn and is now Lupa’s best buddy and partner in crime. Hence we don’t have a garden anymore. Personality wise, she’s the sweetest, gentlest girl who loves to cuddle with her nose in your neck.

“And Jess is our grand old lady. What can I say about Jessica? She came to us with her soulmate, Zephyr, in 2013. My mom was dying and I’d moved from Durban to look after her. That was when I found Zephyr and Jessica about one month after arriving in Johannesburg. Jessica doesn’t leave my side and is my disciplinarian who reprimands the naughty youngsters. The night we took my mom to the hospital, we didn’t know she wasn’t going to come home. But Zephyr and Jessica knew; when we got back from the hospital, we found Zephyr curled up on my mom’s pillow and Jessica curled up at the bottom of the bed. Jessica went downhill after Zephyr passed away, and that was when we adopted Lupa. 

“Our lives haven’t been the same since. We’re so loved and have the three most beautiful rescues that we’d never change.”

Photo credit: Hugh Sanders

Zahndré Roos & Alma du Toit share Azurie, who was adopted from SPCA Uitenhage

“We adopted Azurie on the 27th of July 2023. We went to the SPCA to adopt another kitty that they advertised, but then our friend Antoinette called us and showed us this beautiful girl with the name Serenity. We immediately fell in love with her – she had the most beautiful eyes we’ve ever seen. We immediately started with the process. We met her on the 24th and, three days later, she was safe and sound in her new home with her two mommies (I joke that I’m the mommy and my Mom is granny).

“We laughed, because we kept on forgetting this baby girl’s name, so we started to Google names associated with blue and came upon the following: Azuree is a girl’s name of Spanish origin, and the meaning of Azuree is a variant of sky blue; we played around and came up with AZURIE, our baby girl with the sky-blue eyes.

“We know she didn’t have a good upbringing; we contemplated if she was maybe a house cat that got out or just a stray. She has the most amazing manners and so much love to give. She enjoys the smallest gift we give her, like a stupid old rubber band that keeps her busy for hours. She just loves to play. Her playtime is between 2 AM and 4 AM, while the rest of the household would love to enjoy a good night’s rest, she takes the house over. From jumping from scratch pad to scratch pad or running around in her rainbow colour tunnel, she enjoys everything. So, to say the least, when we have work to do, she sleeps. She even discovered the curtains and thinks she’s Jane (like Tarzan and Jane).

She loves cuddles and to just lie on your chest. She’s already so overprotective of her two “sisters”, Bekkie and Coco, our Green Cheek Conures. I’d love to say she’s an awesome big sister, but between the three of them she’s the baby.”

Photo credit: Shendl Rewitzky of Bark & Beyond

Linda Bowman shares Hershey, who was adopted from Vaalpets

“Hershey was adopted at just at eight weeks old and he’ll be two in October. He made the long trip from Vereeniging. Since arriving, he’s been my little shadow.

“He’s adorable and has got such character. He puts his “jarmies” on at night, enjoys his warm milk before bed, and loves watching Netflix. He also loves swimming in the dam and chasing butterflies etc.; he’s wise as to pick on his own size.”

Dave Kraitzick shares Bailey and Zoey

“In mid-January, two four-week-old kittens were dumped with Alison Clack who operates Germiston Feline Ferals, with which I’m involved with sponsoring of food and sterilisations. She had nowhere to take them and was considering taking them to the SPCA. They were sick with snuffles and were full of fleas. I spoke to her and offered to foster them. 

“In the meantime, Alison took the kittens to the vet for some medication and to be treated for their fleas. When I fetched them the following day, I could see they weren’t doing well, so I decided to take them to my vet. On first inspection, we thought they were a male and female, so I named them Tigga and Zoey. My vet immediately hospitalised them for a few days and they started to get better. I decided to keep them in my bathroom, where they lived for the first few months. 

“They gradually grew healthy and loved their food. I used to fall asleep in the bathroom every night and wake up with the two of them fast asleep on top of me.

“My plan was to advertise them for homes once they’d completed their vaccinations and were sterilised. However, when I lost my beloved dogs, Jake and Jessie, to heaven, I often lay with the kittens and they warmed my heart and absorbed my tears. By the time they were ready for their sterilisations, I decided I couldn’t adopt them out because they’d been there for me during this really sad time… and besides, I already loved them too much!

“When they went for their steries we discovered that Tigga was a girl, so I renamed her Bailey. They are two very busy kitties. They love their food and are constantly running around chasing each other and playing with their toys. Bailey sleeps under my arm and Zoey sleeps on top of me or sometimes against my recently adopted dog, Einstein’s, chest to keep warm. 

“Bailey is very attached to me and cries when she can’t see me. Zoey is more independent and her biggest love is food! Both are very affectionate and loving.

“I love these two kitties so much, and when I made the decision to go fetch them, I was wondering what I was going to do with them… now I wonder what I’d do without them! Two little precious lives that could have ended so differently will live their days happy and cared for forever!”

Marja Vorster shares Chloe

“We rescued Chloe in May this year from horrible circumstances.

“Chloe absolutely loves running in her wheel but sadly didn't have this privilege in her previous home. She also loves cuddles and giving kisses.”

Photo credit: Shuttermutts Pet Photography

Jacques Smith shares Layla, who was adopted from Border Collie Rescue

“Layla, our mischievous and loveable Border Collie cross, was adopted from Border Collie Rescue Cape Town! When her story popped up, we couldn’t resist meeting her, and it was instant puppy love. She’s the perfect companion for our older dog, Lara, and together with our never-ending-energy bundle of joy, Hope, they form an unstoppable trio.

“Layla’s start in life wasn’t easy, but she’s a survivor with a heart full of love. It’s suspected that she may have been caged and abused, but every day she leaves more of her troubled past behind, showing us that joy can conquer all. And did we mention her passion for food? This girl can eat! She’s got the food schedule down to a science and never misses to remind us of a mealtime.

“Layla’s journey to our home has been a whirlwind of emotions and laughter. She’s a gentle soul, and we couldn’t be happier to have her in our lives. Here’s to Layla, our look-at-me-now superstar!”

Dave Kraitzick shares Sabrina, who was adopted from Harties Feral Cat Rescue

“In late December 2019, two of my doggies got into a massive fight. In trying to separate them I got mauled. Over the next few months I was in and out of hospital and had many operations. My right middle finger was amputated and I had severe injuries to my ligaments and tendons in my legs. My left leg subsequently went septic and luckily the doctors managed to save my leg. During this time, Joanne from Harties Feral Cat Rescue was in contact with me. I’ve helped with fundraising for them and they were a beneficiary from my charity cycle tour from Johannesburg to Durban in December 2019.

“One evening, Joanne sent me a video of a very young kitten that she’d rescued from someone selling it at the Hartbeespoort Dam Tunnel that day. This kitten was feisty and really cute. It was also on an evening when I was particularly sad because I was battling to recover from all the operations and damage to my body. I somehow felt an attachment to this kitten and asked Joanne if I could adopt her, which she happily agreed to. The kitten was very young (probably two weeks old) and Joanne said that she needed to have her tested for all the nasties and she still needed to be bottle-fed for a bit before I could get her.

“In the meantime, I named her Sabrina. When Sabrina was six weeks old, Joanne delivered my little package. It was only days before the Covid hard lockdown. Sabrina was right at home from the start and as feisty and naughty as she was in all her videos. She was still on kitten milk but also loved her wet food, and from day one she attacked all the other kitties and loved all her toys. She was very affectionate and, straight away, enjoyed sleeping on top of Dad. Her one love was destroying toilet rolls, which she still does. She survived a very bad bout of snuffles (and captured the hearts of all the vet staff during her stay in hospital).

“She was an amazing companion through lockdown and brought so many smiles and laughs to my life through this time and also with my recovery from my operations. She found a way to comfort me during the rough times and always entertains me. She’s very affectionate and enjoys darting around chasing anything that moves and play fighting with the other kitties. She’s fiercely independent and doesn’t allow any of the other kitties to get the better of her. Her favourite spot is on top of Dad or bathing outside in the sun.

“She’s been with me for three years and is a very precious member of my family.”

Shirley Millar shares Becca and Kylo, who were both adopted from TEARS

“We adopted Kylo in 2019 and Becca in 2021 – they’re beautiful souls and both are healers.

“Kylo came into our lives in 2019, nine months after my husband passed away and a month after my Dachshund Betsy passed. My two remaining Dachshunds were depressed and pining. Kylo brought so much love, light and energy into our home and hearts.

“Becca, I’d seen her photo on the TEARS website month after month and was drawn to her. But then, one month her post was no longer there. A little while later, her photo was back again – she’d been adopted and was sadly returned.

“A few months later, I decided I wanted to meet her, which I did. Then we took our three dogs to meet her and all went well. Things have been pretty hairy as she had a very abusive start in life and is still very fear aggressive. We manage her environment as best we can and avoid triggers. With me she’s so calm, loving and playful.

“It’s taken months for Becca to accept that a warm jacket and a blanket is ‘safe’. Kylo, on the other hand, loves his jackets and blankets and is a permanent fixture on my bed.”

Aiden Jacobs shares Athena, who was adopted from Cluny Animal Trust

“Athena was the only pup that survived after her mommy got poisoned and the rest of the litter died due to unknown causes. She was then handed over to Cluny when she was only four weeks old.

“When I saw her, I instantly knew that I wanted to adopt her and give her a better life!

“Athena has settled down amazingly well in her new home and made good friends with our two cats. We currently live on a farm in Fouriesburg, which of course has a MASSIVE yard that she absolutely loves running around in and going crazy (especially destroying our poor plants!).

“Athena is an amazing and – for her age – a very intelligent pup. At only five weeks old, she’s been fully potty trained and learnt how to sit on command. She’s an extremely people-orientated pup, so wherever I am... she isn’t very far behind. She comes to work with me every day and gets along FABULOUSLY with the other dogs at my workplace.”

Photo credit: Tiny Toes Photography

Marja Vorster shares Hope, who was adopted from Boggle & Brux Rescue

“We adopted Hope in June 2022. 

“She has a misaligned jaw and needs regular teeth trimming. Hope is very independent. She’s not overcome by her disability and we love her confidence and strong character.”

Gillian Keelty shares Avery, who was adopted from TEARS Animal Rescue

“Avery, is a large tabby, about seven years old, and has made her home with us for the last three years. It’s my understanding that Avery, together with two other cats, was surrendered to TEARS just before the Covid lockdown.

“Her favourite pastime is soaking up the sun and watching the world go by (birds & butterflies), and catching the occasional gogga. She announces her every move with a chirrup and knows how to get her own way simply by staring at you.

“Avery is a loving, sweet and gentle soul. A true credit to the family who brought her up from kittenhood.”

Jane White shares Rebecca, Loxley and Bowen, all adopted from Barefoot Rescue

“We adopted these three kittens from Barefoot Rescue. We hadn’t intended to get three, but when we visited them and saw how bonded they all were, we didn't have the heart to separate them. Words can't express how much joy they’ve brought into our lives. All three such different personalities but each one perfect. 

“Rebecca, the black-and-white girl, has earned the nickname 110% Becs because she does everything at 110%, whether it’s playing, sleeping, purring, snuggling, or making sure the other kittens are using the litter box correctly. 

“Loxley, the all-black girl, loves to sit and contemplate things and will meow pitifully when she wants to catch bugs that are out of reach. 

“And Bowen, the grey-and-white boy, is so cuddly, an instant momma’s boy and just happy about everything.”

“PS: Rebecca and Loxley are Trixie’s kittens, and Bowen was formerly named Velcro, whom Trixie nursed.”

Marco Vatta and Udisha Chathuri share Saigon

“We adopted Saigon from the Vietnamese Embassy in Pretoria, hence his name. A stray cat had given birth to kittens on their property, and they were looking for good homes for the kittens. Of course, we couldn’t resist!”. 

“Saigon was an only fur kid until last year when we adopted Odin, formerly known as Ginger Biscuit. Our family is now complete… but we are considering adopting a canine friend!”

Joanne Ross shares Kai, who was adopted from Aid4Aid

“Kai had a rough start to life. He was knocked over by a taxi at 11 weeks old. Thankfully, that taxi driver rushed him off to the nearest vet. Kai had an extensive degloving of his paw and needed a skin graft and toe amputation. He also had a nasty case of ringworm that has left a terrible scar and a tummy full of stones.

“Aid4Aid took sweet Kai into foster care and helped him recover and learn what love really was. I fell in love with sweet Kai on Instagram and slid into his DM’s. The rest, as they say, is history!”

Kay-Leigh Bier shares Gucci, who was adopted from Wellington SPCA

“Meet my mischievous little fluff ball, a delightful blend of Maltese and Fox Terrier. This energetic bundle of fur is the epitome of athleticism, always ready for an adventure or a game of fetch. Despite her petite size, this pint-sized dynamo possesses enough energy to rival a marathon runner!

“But don't let that fool you; beneath her athletic prowess lies a heart of gold. This four-legged charmer is incredibly loving and sensitive, with an uncanny ability to sense and respond to the slightest change in mood. Her presence is like a warm, fuzzy blanket, wrapping you in unconditional affection.

“Now, bedtime can be a hilarious battle of wills. Like a pint-sized wrestling champion, my little dog unleashes her inner struggle for dominance every night on the parental bed. It's a comical dance of acrobatics and determination as she tries to secure her spot on the throne, or rather, the pillow.

“However, her attachment issues can be both endearing and perplexing. She clings to her favourite humans like Velcro, never wanting to let go. She’s perfected the art of puppy eyes and guilt trips to ensure she’s always by your side. Leaving the house becomes a dramatic event as you bid farewell with mournful eyes as if you're embarking on a perilous journey.

“In the end, my Maltese-Fox Terrier mix is a loving, energetic, and fiercely attached companion. She brings joy, laughter, and occasional sleepless nights, making life an entertaining adventure with every wag of her adorable little tail.”

Photo credit: Jacqui L. Photography

Jenny Shone shares Jessica, who was adopted from Highveld Horse Care Unit

“Jessica is the gentlest and most loving donkey and so sensitive. She literally picks up all the energies and emotions of the people around her. She never gets involved in anything naughty and generally keeps out of the way when the others are being naughty. However, she does steal my jump poles at times and cat food if she gets a chance.”

Imogen Tarita shares LeeLoo who was adopted from Cluny Animal Trust

“LeeLoo was the runt of the Cluny 8 back in October 2019; their mom had been poisoned, and her eight one-day-old pups were raised by hand by Chantel, who was a volunteer of the Cluny Animal Trust at that time. She worked full-time and had to hand-raise these 8, which was not an easy job at all. Initially, the Cluny team were very worried about LeeLoo - she really was teeny tiny compared to her siblings, and her survival was anything but certain - but she thrived.

“The Cluny 8 made great Facebook posts as they discovered the world. Personally, I had a real soft spot for LeeLoo (then called Palesa), and when it came time to find them all homes, I wanted only the best for her. We got an application from a family in Johannesburg that wanted to adopt two girls, and we did the home checks, and everything came back great, so just after Christmas, on 29 December 2019, LeeLoo and her sister Jessie went off to their new home in JHB. Happy ending, right? WRONG!

“On Valentine’s Day 2020, I received a call from Chantel: the family were returning both pups as they were getting divorced. The man was bringing them back in one hour! What was so sad was that this family had bragged all over social media about how they had rescued these two pups and that they had the best of everything. Yet now, out of the blue, they wanted to return them within the hour, with no thought as to where they would go at such short notice. Chantel asked if I could help as I was in Johannesburg. Of course, I could.  

“What got dumped at my office were two underweight and very scared little pups – no collars, leads or anything like that and a dirty old blanket. So much for having the best of everything. I raced over the road to a pet shop and got what they needed, and Chantel arranged for someone to pick them up and bring them back to Clarens. What a traumatic day for these poor puppies.

“Once they were back with Chantel, she worked on getting them back to their old selves, and we had to start the process of looking for a home for them. But I took this as a sign. I had fallen in love with LeeLoo and helped look after her as a baby, and now she had been returned. And she needed us. 

Her sister Jessie was adopted very quickly, so we applied to the Cluny Animal Trust to adopt LeeLoo. Because I work for them as a volunteer and had already adopted Mia (see the Look at Me Now section for June 2023), our adoption was immediately approved. Just in the nick of time, she came home to us at the end of February 2020 - going into hard lockdown with a new dog was the best bonding experience, and she settled in immediately.

“We called her LeeLoo because of the heroine from one of our favourite movies, The 5th Element. We have never owned an Africanis before, but what a wonderful breed of dog that I would highly recommend, especially to families. She is strong and fiercely loyal but, at the same time, a complete goofball. Her antics crack us up. She hates water, and when we took all of our dogs to the beach, she was never far away and kept an eye on everyone but would have none of it! She is solid muscle and doesn’t seem to realise this because she does try to sit on my lap, and she really loves belly rubs.

“Getting her was the best choice we ever made. She made our family whole, and now we have what we affectionately call the Fab 4. As they say, everything happens for a reason, and we were always meant to adopt LeeLoo. She is a very special dog and has a beautiful and gentle heart, and we love her to bits!”

Carol Clark shares Jack

“This is Jack. We picked him up on a freeway as a puppy about five years ago. My daughter, Amy, decided to keep him. I am his “doggy day-care” mom as she works full time at a very demanding job. But Sundays are set aside for outings to the mountains or the beach - declared a “Paws Day”! Amy and her hubby, Enrico, set out with their four rescue dogs, including Jack, for a day of fun and relaxation.”

Gillian Keelty shares Pepper, who was adopted from TEARS Animal Rescue

“Pepper, our tortie girl, was adopted about 11 years ago, and she will turn 13 in November. She was pregnant when rescued and had four mixed tortoiseshell and ginger babies, all of whom went to good homes.

“She loves lounging in the sunshine, watching birds (never catching them) and enjoys her food and treats (demands them sometimes...).

“On cold wintery days, you will find her asleep on her hot water bottle and wrapped in her sherpa blanket. She lives up to the tortoiseshell reputation and can be quite feisty at times.

“I think TEARS (amongst others) do fantastic work in a world that is getting harder not only for people but their animals as well. It is always a pleasure to spend time at the TEARS cattery, and their annual Sleepathon event is a must!”

Photo credit: Isak Venter Photography

Gillian Hansen shares Daisy, who was adopted from Animal Welfare Society, Stellenbosch

“We adopted Daisy at eight weeks of age. She had been surrendered to the shelter with her mom and siblings. She is a very spoilt girl and has only ever slept in our beds since the day she entered our home.

Daisy is super intelligent and extremely alert. Her place of standing guard is on our dining room table so that she can see out the window. She is the neighbourhood watch for our entire complex. She is very noisy and squeals like crazy when people arrive or when she goes for a walk. She also can smile and will give you a coy look and smile when she wants attention. She enjoys a good tummy rub. She loves to sleep under the duvet with us but does not like it if we touch her with our feet. We suspect that she must have been kicked, prior to being surrendered, as she does not like feet being near her.

“She is four years old now but is also still very playful. She and our other rescue, Rusty, are great friends and play a lot - on her terms (only if she wants to play and not every time he initiates play. She likes sitting on top of us and if there is a blanket around, she needs to be under it.”

Caryl Moll shares Milo, who was adopted from Maltese Rescue South Africa

“Who would have thought that my paintbrush would magically transform my rock art into reality? What a surprise! A most welcome one too. After 24 hours of painting my ultimate little fluff ball, everything simply fell into place and he finally arrived, totally unexpectedly, into our home. 

“After years of searching for the right pup, and many roadblocks along the way, a simple phone call and plea allowed my little bundle of joy to be welcomed into our home. 

“Milo is growing in leaps and bounds, infiltrating our home with warmth and new energy. What a joy! What a welcome adventure it continues to be and we remain enthralled. Our household is brimming with warmth as his contagious and exuberant energy infiltrates our lives – the perfect antidote to any latent depression. 

“I can’t begin to express my thanks and appreciation to Maltese Rescue South Africa for their professionalism and care in placing little Milo with me; especially to Nicholas. Thanks also to the veterinary staff at Lambton Veterinary Clinic. Thank you for trusting me to give him a good home. Milo will be loved and cared for to the best of my ability.”

Enjoy watching Milo debuting on YouTube here

Imogen Tarita shares Mia, who was adopted from the Cluny Animal Trust

“We adopted Mia on the 11th of October 2019. She’d been found at about eight weeks of age, sitting on the side of the Bethlehem-Clarens road. There were no villages or anything around, so we assume she was dumped. We’d been chatting about getting a bigger dog as we have a huge property in Clarens and wanted a dog to walk and hike with, so when Mia came along it just made sense.

“I have to be honest, for my husband it was love at first sight and these two are joined at the hip; where he goes, she goes. We now only go on holidays in SA, where we can take the four dogs. I’m not too sure who has separation anxiety more, Mia or my hubby; they really do have a very special bond. I’d been bitten by a GSD when I was a child, so I was a little nervous about adopting her, but I was willing to give it a chance and I’m so glad I did. She’s the most gentle and special soul, yet fiercely protective over her family. She’s truly an amazing dog.

“Mia is high energy, and we love that. We spent a lot of time working with a trainer, because we didn’t want a big dog that was uncontrollable, and it was so worth it! We have her commands down to simple hand gestures and a few choice German words, which is great, and I’d encourage anyone with a power breed to take the time to learn with someone who knows what they’re doing – you’ll never regret it.

“So, am I a GSD convert? You bet. We love Mia and she loves us. And whoever dumped her… you’re a complete idiot, but your loss was our gain because she’s the perfect dog, inside and out. As we celebrate all of our dogs’ birthdays, Mia is the only one of our pets that we don’t know the exact date she was born on, so we chose the 9th August, which as we all know is Women’s Day, so that’s a super special day in our house each year and that’s what a special dog deserves, her very own special birthday!”

Skye Lombard and Andrea share Sully, who was adopted from Kitty & Puppy Haven

“We had so much love in our home, we knew we needed to open it up to a little somebody who needed some. We went to the Kitty & Puppy Haven, not knowing what to expect, and met our little Sully (Sullivan when he’s climbing up the curtains). It was love at first purr and we knew we had to have him.

“Our hearts are so full and we feel so privileged to be able to give him a forever home. A special thanks to Kitty & Puppy Haven for giving him a second chance at life.”

Birgitta Cederstrom shares Sophie, who was adopted from Sighthound Rescue SA

“When my older Africanis, Rusty, passed away in April 2017 of old age, I contacted Sighthound Rescue SA as I was interested in adopting an Irish Wolfhound cross. One day, I received a call that they had a great fit in a newly rescued bitch, and this is how I got introduced to Sophia, or Sophie as I named her.

“Her rescue story is too sad to share as it was one of total neglect and abuse, as in most rescue stories, and her barely surviving the first days after years of starvation. She was 18kg when she was rescued and approximately 1-2 years old. Today, she weighs 42kg and is 7-8 years old – a magnificent Wolfhound x.

“Never give up, be kind and support rescue organisations who do a fantastic job. Choose to adopt rescue dogs. Don’t shy away from the larger hounds; just get a bigger sofa, or bed, and give them plenty of love.”

The Giessing family share Snowy, who was adopted from Pomeranian Rescue SA

“We adopted Snowy on the 25th of September 2022. He was one of six babies surrendered to the rescue organisation and he’s six years old. He was fed porridge, which caused him to weigh 9+ kg. Snowy is a ‘Throwback Pommie’ – throwbacks are bigger than your standard little Pommies.

“We have another little pitch-black boy, Pacco; the two of them get along very well. Snowy is the most loveable, thankful baby you can imagine. He loves it when you hug him. His bed in the playpen is his ultimate favourite place.

“Snowy is the cutest, most adorable baby you can imagine and he has firmly crept into our hearts – he’s ‘mommy and daddy’s rescue boy’. All I can say is: PLEASE ADOPT, DON’T SHOP.”

Kathi Sales shares a bit from Honey...

“I’m Honey, the milk-chocolate rescue, and my sister is Mia, the dark-chocolate girly one, but we’re equally sweet!

“We were adopted from Wellington SPCA; Mom and Dad fell in love with us the moment they saw us and they said we were the perfect pair! Mom and Dad are retired and so have plenty of time to hang out with us. The garden is huge and great to run around and play catch. 

“I’m so lucky to have my sis with me. Mia is the shy one and I’m the bold one. We’re learning all the important words like our individual names, which was quite hard. Dad had this idea to use the method of a batsman in a cricket game. Mom and Dad sat opposite each other and we were called to the opposite side and given a treat. It took a few tries and then we got it. We know ‘sit’ and ‘come’ as well. ‘Leave’ was a big one too. We had to learn that word as Dad has a flock of Guinea Fowl who live in our garden and we’re not allowed to chase them.

“We’ve just turned six months old and so we’re big enough to start going on walks to the beach, which is just outside our gate. We’re discovering it’s a big world out there. We’re allowed to run on our own, but mom keeps our leads attached in case she has to restrain us. She calls us back to her often for a treat so that we don’t get lost. That’s ok as you can get distracted by all the smells, but who wouldn’t want a treat. We live next door to horse racing stables and see the horses training on the beach as well. We have to sit when a horse passes us so that we learn to be calm and not get under their feet. 

“There are so many things to learn and adventures to be had!”

Kerry Scott shares Winkle and Perri

“I was fostering Winkle and Perri for a lady who was going through a difficult time. She did contact me about collecting them but they’d settled in so well with me that we decided that it would be better for them to stay with me!

“They’ll be four this year.

“Winkle thinks she’s a power breed and is extremely cheeky, and Perri is my little shadow; he cries to be picked up all the time and held like a baby.”

Photo credit: Blue Lace Photography

Tammy Human shares her little fur family... 

“We’ve gathered together a little family of rescues/adopted kitties over the last few years. Our tortie cat, Nova, was adopted from the SPCA when she was three months old. Next, our grey tabby, Loki, was brought home after he was abandoned in a shopping complex close to a pet shop; Loki was about five weeks old when we got him.

“Thor, our ginger cat, was a baby from a feral mommy from a feral colony here in Pretoria East. Then we got our little white-and-black cat, Maverick, who was rescued from a mine.

“In February this year, my brother was on his way to the hospital one evening when he spotted Harley, a little calico kitten, running in the streets, so we headed out and caught her and brought her home. Now Maverick and Harley are the best of friends.”

Retha Niehaus shares Buks, who was adopted from Kempton Park SPCA

“I follow Kempton Park SPCA’s page on Facebook and had noticed Buks when he was first posted. I sponsored him for some months. After seeing month after month go by without him being adopted, or even noticed, I went to meet him with the idea of adopting him as a companion for our Husky, who was all alone as his mom and dad had passed earlier due to old age.

“We took Max to meet Buks to see if they’d get along, and they did. I immediately applied for the adoption and was thrilled when our home was approved. Sadly, three days before we were to fetch Buks, Max passed away, so Buks came home to only us humans.

“Buks is amazing and we never expected that an adopted doggie would be so precious! People always have the idea that owning a dog from puppy size is best, but it’s so not true. 

“We adopted him last August and we took him on holiday with us to Port Elizabeth in December, which we all thoroughly enjoyed. He regularly accompanies us on drives and goes with us to our daughter’s athletics practice on Sundays.

“Everybody loves Buks – and everybody needs a Buks in their lives. I urge everybody who’s looking to add a doggo or cat to their family to first visit their local SPCA and consider giving a loving home to one of their animals.

“We love Buks so much and he brings so much joy into our lives.”

Photo credit: Nat Gold ZA

Conrad Greer shares Widget, who was adopted from Uitsig Animal Rescue Centre

“Widget is our beautiful girl whom we’ve had for just over nine years and, believe it or not, she and Gizmo are brother and sister, from the same litter. By chance, when we adopted Gizmo, the paperwork revealed that they’re family. Widget was a tiny baby when we got her, but has grown into a very confident and loving pooch. She rules the house and is just such a joy to have around.”

Christiaan Harmse shares Engeltjie, who was adopted from Cheeky Beaks Parrot Rescue

“I saw a Facebook post of Engeltjie the Cockatoo and knew I had to meet her. I was contacted by a Cheeky Beaks team member and had the chance to meet Engeltjie. She immediately jumped straight onto me. This was so unexpected, but at the same time so rewarding that I was being chosen by a parrot. Especially a Cockatoo who’s very sceptical and doesn’t allow anyone to touch her. 

“I had another meet with Engeltjie as we wanted to make sure she’d be happy with me; again, she immediately took to me and my heart just bubbled. 

“I fell in love with her the moment I saw her. Engeltjie has filled a place in my heart I didn’t know existed; it’s rewarding to gain the trust of a parrot. This is why adoption is so amazing and I encourage anyone who feels the same love for birds to consider adoption as a way to make a positive impact on their lives.

“I can say that adopting Engeltjie has been a deeply rewarding experience which requires patience, dedication, and a genuine love for feathered creatures. By adopting Engeltjie I’m not only providing her with a safe and loving home, but it also allows me to learn and appreciate her unique personality.

“The foster did amazing work with Engeltjie and got her to engage in a busy environment and still be okay and play with toys when she has to be alone. 

“Thank you, Engeltjie and Cheeky Beaks, for filling my heart!”

Liz and Charles Penprase share Thor

“Thor has been a family member for two years. From a closed-down, fear-aggressive boy to the magnificent Ridgeback he has grown into today; it was all there, it just had to be encouraged and loved, and it slowly emerged.

“We’re so blessed to have him share his life with us. He’s loved by all who meet him. Thank you to animal behaviourist Katherine Brown and Ridgeback rescuer Antonette van Tonder for making this all happen and giving us the extra push. 

“We cannot believe how far he’s come and how much we adore him!”

Imogen Tarita shares Fergie, who was adopted from Cluny Animal Trust

“In April, Happy Tails Magazine highlighted our precious boy, Jed; this is his sister, Fergie, aka The Supervisor, or as my husband likes to call her, ‘The Princess’. We adopted them together!
“She’s six years old, and she was rescued along with her brother. She may be the smallest one of the Fab 4, as we like to call them, but she’s the alpha for sure. Of course, she sleeps on the bed and has to be on your pillow – well, think about the story of the Princess and the Pea and it all fits – but she’s so funny, she cracks us all up because she has such an adorable personality. This little miss is loved and adored by everyone who meets her.

“She thinks she’s a very big dog and likes to be the boss of everything. If you say the words ‘walk’ or ‘road trip’, she goes slightly nuts and twirls in a circle until she gets a walk or a road trip and, of course, she must sit up front in the car!

“She has a very soulful side as well. We live in the mountains, and we often find her staring out into the distance. We took her to the sea last year for the first time; all the Fab 4 loved it, but Fergie was a scream. When we weren’t on the beach she kept wanting to get on the table (please don’t judge), and she’d just sit there for what seemed like hours staring out to sea, and we always wonder what she’s thinking... Probably what’s for dinner, because she loves her food… but we like to think she’s pondering what a wonderful life she has, because she’s truly loved and adored.”

Russell Sparg shares Thomas

“Thomas is our previously very feral rescue cat who now lives a life of luxury and opulence in Lusaka, Zambia.

“He adopted us on Valentine’s Day at the age of around three months old – now almost 18 months ago – so he’s almost two, and the most demanding and affectionate ginger ever!

“He’s been neutered, but this inconvenience has certainly not dampened his adventurous spirit that we love so much about him.”

Rekha Mathew shares Rudy, who was adopted from Harrismith Animal Shelter

“It was our first time adopting a dog and I had huge concerns – I was worried if it was the right thing to do... But as soon as we saw Rudy, we all fell in love with him. He ran up to us wagging his tail and enjoyed a few treats from Melvin, our son.

“Rudy has been with us for a few weeks now and he’s shown us so much love, even towards our friends who came to see him. He’s so well behaved and all he needs is love. We look forward to spending a lifetime with our gentle giant.”

Lezania Foster shares Kitkat

“Kitkat is a four-year-old Ragdoll. We adopted her when, sadly, her owner passed away. She was really shy and anxious when she came to us, but today she loves sleeping on our bed and being cuddled. Kitkat weighs 8kg and is currently on a diet programme.

“She loves to roll around on the carpet so that we can rub her. She also runs very fast like a dog. For a very scared cat who hid under the bed all the time, now she’s so playful. 

“She made us work very hard to win her trust, and it was all worth it!”

Photo credit: Shuttermutts Pet Photography

Lindsay Catlin shares Gunner, who was adopted from Majestic Beast Rescue

“Isn’t he just divine? Gunner, who’s 2.5 years old, was chained up outside for almost all that time, had no muscle mass, and was very thin.

“Gunner was rehabilitated by Majestic Beast Rescue in Klapmuts and is truly magnificent now.

“It’s wonderful to take on a rescue dog who has no issues. He likes other dogs, has no food aggression, behaves well on walks, and enjoys the car.

“I’m blessed to be his guardian for the rest of his life!”

Photo credit: Xany Jansen Van Vuuren

Xany Jansen Van Vuuren shares Piston

“Piston was found as a three-week-old kitten in the hood of a car. The driver of the car heard crying coming from the hood after having travelled from a nearby town to Bloemfontein. 

“After many urgent shares on social media, Piston found her way to us, and we all spent many sleepless nights bottle-feeding this tiny little survivor. 

“Today, she’s a happy, chubby little troublemaker.”

Imogen Tarita shares Jed

“We adopted Jed, a Maltese X, six years ago when he was eight weeks old. He has three sisters, who are all rescues. He was born on the 17th of September 2016, and we celebrate his birthday every year. It’s quite rare to know the exact day your dog was born, so we feel blessed that we know his birth date.

“He’s the sweetest thing and fiercely protective like a lion. If I’m in the house, he follows me everywhere. Where you find me, you’ll find Jed. He has tons of energy and loves to play catch. He always snuggles and cuddles up with me, and yes, he does sleep in the bed! If I turn over, he moves and cuddles up close. It really is so cute. I have a footstool at my desk, and when I’m working from home, he curls up on that and goes to sleep.

“A couple of years ago, I entered him into the Fluffy Kids monthly competition, and he came second. It must have been his adorable face. We had a long chat about his prize money, and although he wanted treats, which he gets every day, he agreed that we could donate his winnings to the Cluny Animal Trust to help other animals in need. Not only is he adorable, but he’s generous as well.”

Photo credit: Xany Jansen Van Vuuren

Xany Jansen Van Vuuren shares StinkerBell

“Officially named Smelly Cat, a name many millennials will understand, but affectionately called StinkerBell, he came to us as a broken, exhausted, starving, and incredibly smelly cat after his previous humans had replaced him and his sister with two kittens. They stopped feeding him and sprayed him with a garden hose when he dared come near the house. Luckily, a concerned neighbour noticed what was happening and brought him to us to rehome. 

“We fell in love with his gentle, affectionate nature and couldn’t bear to part with him after what he’d gone through.”

Photo credit: Nat Gold ZA

Conrad Greer shares Gizmo, who was adopted from Uitsig Animal Rescue Centre

“Gizmo is our handsome and gentle boy. We’ve had him for eight years, and he’s my wife Belinda’s shadow. He’s just a most loyal and loving boy. Unfortunately, our time with him is limited as he has a terminal lung tumour, which is inoperable, so each day he’s with us is very special.”

Kerry Scott shares Belle, who was adopted from an animal rescuer

“Matriarch Bellch Belle turns eight in June. She’s my soul dog and the boss of the house!”

Heather Gertzen shares little Annie

“Annie is five years old and had been born into a home where there was no love whatsoever. As a puppy, she was used as a plaything by a child who delighted in pulling her fur out! 

“Thankfully, she was rescued, and the day she was taken away, I adopted her. She had barely any fur covering her body, was in enormous pain, and weighed just under 1kg. 

“Her fur took a while to grow back, but today she’s the most beautiful girl and gets all the love that every animal deserves!”

Oneplan Pet Insurance was so moved by Annie’s story; her fighting spirit made her a true Oneplan Pet Hero. Amy Botha of Oneplan Pet Insurance says, “We’re so comforted to know that Annie is in an amazing environment now, and that we have the privilege of looking after her health, while her mom, Heather, looks after her happiness.”

Carrey-Lynn Legge shares Miss Kitty and Daisy

“Miss Kitty has been a member of the family for many years. She became especially fond of us when her elderly owner passed away and she adopted us as her new parents.

“We recently adopted Daisy as a sister for Miss Kitty. There was definitely a lot of hissing at first, but they’re slowly creeping their way into each other’s hearts.

“They both love to have zoomies at all hours of the night and spend the days relaxing in the sun.”

Marina Britz shares Bella, who was adopted through Feel Good Funding Adoptions

“Bella was a puppy-mill Boerboel momma who was no longer wanted. We took her in as a foster and simply fell in love with her, and now she’s here to stay!

“She’s constantly investigating everything around her in a pedantic way. When completely satisfied that all is ‘kosher’, only then can she relax with bliss written all over her face. She’s irreplaceable.”

Marie-Ann Wannenberg shares Duke Thomas

“Duke Thomas came into the vet practice where I work as ‘unwanted’. I was told not to look at him. Then I was told not to fall in love with him. And, well, that’s history!

“He rules the block of flats that we live in. Even though he’s neutered, he’s a fighter. Given half the chance, he fights with any cat crossing his path and he fights with the humans if he’s taken away from an attempt to fight, or when I have to bring him in, if there are cats around. 

“He was first called Mini Beeny/Lost Boy; Dr Jenny then suggested Tom, Keith suggested Duke, while my friend Almaree suggested Thomas... so I combined the names and called him Duke Thomas.”

Jo Blair and Ofer Barak share Nina and Nes

“We sadly lost all three of our fur babies in 2022; we thought we could manage life without any ‘kids’ for a while, but then we met Nina. We couldn’t resist this beautiful soul who’d spent most of her young 10-month-old life at TEARS. Nina is our Golden Girl, she’s pure joy.

“And then, two weeks later, this tiny pup happened upon us! Baby Nes was rescued from an abusive owner by a lovely kind-hearted soul named Peter, who sadly couldn’t keep her. Taking her in has given us, and her ‘big sister’, Nina, nothing but happy entertainment and so many cuddles (and the odd nip – those puppy teeth!). We named her Nes (Nessie), which means ‘miracle’ in Hebrew, and because she’s a little monster!

“Our unexpected family is complete and we look forward to every day with our stunning rescue pups.”

Photo credit: elysian

Jackie Bruwin shares Casper, who was adopted from Bella’s Guardian Angels

“After adopting Casper’s mum (Luna’s Happy Tale), I couldn’t resist and adopted him too! He remembered her immediately, but she wasn’t having any of it. His sweetness won her over and they are now best of friends!”

Photo credit: Nat Gold ZA

Conrad Greer shares Bithkit, who was adopted from Uitsig Animal Rescue Centre

“Bithkit is probably 12 years old now, and we’ve had him for three-and-a-half years. We rescued him from a shelter as he had bad arthritis and the cold winters at the shelter didn’t help, so we brought him home. 

“We treat his arthritis as best we can, but we still need to help him to his feet and steer him around when he battles to walk on his own. He’s such a chilled, relaxed and happy old gentleman.

“And just to explain that Bithkit is actually Biscuit, but he has no front teeth from his hard years before adoption and his tongue hangs out sometimes, so he’s now known to us as Bithkit!”

Shamimah Khan shares Yoshi, who was adopted from Cheeky Beaks Parrot Rescue

“I adopted Yoshi in October 2022. He’s the most gorgeous little Eclectus parrot, who’s completely stolen our hearts with his charm and I simply cannot imagine life without him in it.

“He’s learning new words all the time and loves playing peek-a-boo.”

Lauren Námer shares Ali, who was adopted from Pug Rescue South Africa

“We named Ali after my beautiful sister, whom we lost in December. 

“Ali (previously Ellie) is a special little 12-year-old granny. She’s been waiting for over a year for the right home and lost her sibling 10 days ago, which upset her greatly, so this is a second chance at a ‘happy ever after’ in a retirement home, where she’ll have so much love, attention, pampering, and some other geriatric siblings.

“Adopting a senior is such a gift. They’re incredibly special and so deserving.”

Zelda Venter shares Boesie, who was adopted from Woodrock Animal Rescue

“This is my beloved boy, Boesie. I adopted him in 2013 and they said he was seven. I have no idea actually how old he is, but he’s very old now. I love him so much that I cry each Christmas, fearing it’s his last. But he’s still going strong. 

“He’s so mixed breed that I have no idea what he is, but there is a Scotty somewhere. He travels all over the country with us and is a happy dog. He has a scar across his back from where, according to the vet, it seems someone poured boiling water over him. 

“Just a little funny story: Boesie loves the beach and we recently took him to Kleinmond in the Western Cape. We were walking along the very foamy beach when he suddenly fell into a puddle of foam. My friend Liela rescued him, and he came out looking like a woolly sheep covered in foam!

“Boesie is so well cared for. I carry him to bed in my arms at night, before he gets a hearty good-night kiss.”

Andrea Fraser shares Skittles

“Our little Skittles, nicknamed Smitch, came to us a little unexpectedly. One Sunday, we were all chilling at home and a message came through on our neighbourhood group that kittens had been found outside Baragwanath Hospital and they urgently needed homes. There were a few boys and only one girl. 

“I immediately packed the kids in the car and off we went to see them. The little girl stole our hearts and we knew she’d be the perfect fit in our family. Fast forward to today, she’s the most incredible cat! 

“Smitch totally adores my kids, waits for them to get back from school or wherever they’ve been, and follows them around the house, even sleeps with them. She’s also best mates with our Border Collie; they’ve been close since the day we brought her home. We absolutely love her to pieces and can’t imagine our home without her.”

Marelique Grobler shares Senna, who was adopted from HART (Helderberg Animal Rescue Team)

“The whole family went to my brother for his birthday, and Willow’s foster parents were there with their new foster pup, Senna. 

“We were amazed at how well she and Willow played with each other, and we asked if Senna could have a sleepover to see if Willow would accept her at home.

“It didn’t take long for Senna to steal our hearts and we adopted her the next day! 

“Senna is absolutely adorable and we’re super happy to welcome her to the Grobler family.”

Zelda Venter shares Cleaver, who was adopted from Wollies Animal Project

“Cleaver is the latest addition to our little family – we adopted him during lockdown. The shelter had made a plea for him, as Cleaver, then called Dino, wasn’t coping in a cage. He came from a dire background from which he had to be removed. 

“As it turns out, he’s no problem at all; he only wants love. Although he’s the biggest of our three rescue dogs, he’s like a lamb. He very quickly took to the good life.”

Zelda Venter shares Amelia, who was adopted from Woodrock Animal Rescue

“Amelia was found in a veldt shortly after she was born; sadly, her mother was found dead. Amelia, as small as she is, rules the household. She has two brothers, Boesie and Cleaver, whom she orders around, but they dearly love her. 

“Amelia is also widely travelled. Her first trip was as a pup of eight weeks on a 10-hour trip to the Eastern Cape, which she loved. Amelia is fearless and had the least traumatic past from all three of our dogs. I doubt she remembers being abandoned in a veldt.”

Annerie de Waal shares Snippie

“Snippie was purchased from a pet store but was returned a few days later because he allegedly bites. He was then given to me.

“It was quite clear that this little baby was abused in his home. His body was covered in bruises and wounds and his spirit was broken.

“Snippie is under a year old still. He’s recovered from his physical trauma and is getting there emotionally. He’s learned to trust again and has become such a happy boy!”

Jo-Jo Bayvel shares Mia

“I rescued my little Mia from a breeder who was going to put her to sleep because she has lupus. She’s now 12 years old and the love of my life.

“She’s a love bug who spends most of her day cuddled up to me or in my bed, but she also thinks she’s a madam as she chases hadedas!”

Photography credit: elysian

Marelique Grobler shares Amara

“We’d recently just adopted Willow and Willow adopted her as her sister from the get-go and felt the need to protect her from the start. 

“Amara had been rescued by Willow’s foster mum after being found in a box at a second-hand shop in Somerset West and was in desperate need for a loving home.

“It just made absolute sense to make her a part of our family and we immediately fell in love with her! Willow and Amara have formed this special bond that left us all in awe.”

Photography credit: Mariaan Browne

Maggie and Craig Williams share Bentley – their precious “grand-puppy”

“We got Bentley for my daughter as her 18th birthday gift – her dream dog was a Yorkie! He was a total surprise for my daughter, who loved him from the moment she set eyes on him. As life happens, however, when she moved out of the house, she was unable to take Bentley with her. 

“That was two years ago, and Bentley has stayed. He is, of course, totally used to the house, his walking route, and the other dogs that he shares his home with. When he’s misbehaving, he’s called by his full name, ‘Burenwag Bentley’, and he immediately goes ‘Oops! Trouble!’ and stops whatever he’s up to; it’s quite comical to watch.

“He has an amazing personality; a feisty spunky little dog who loves a good outing in the car. He catches on the minute I’m going out, even before I pick up my handbag, and will position himself in line with the garage door so that as soon as it opens he runs in, whether he’s invited or not! Most times this ploy works (it’s too cute for it to fail) and he gets to come along, provided it’s a quick trip/somewhere dog-friendly. If not, he’s evicted from the garage, much to his horror!

“Bentley is five years old now and loves an afternoon nap on the bed with his people, his walks, treats, outings of any nature, and as much attention as possible. He loves to see his previous owner but doesn’t appear to show any signs of wanting to move in with her. She took him to her new flat a few weeks ago and she said he had fun, but, at 7PM, he parked himself at the front door and waited patiently to be taken home. I think Rebecca was a bit sad about this, but, as I explained, he’s used to his garden, his routine, and his own pack who are his companions. He also loves his ‘grandparents’ and appears unlikely to want to be rehomed with Rebecca, as much as she misses him. 

“He’s the gift that stayed with the gifters! I hadn’t intended to have a Yorkie, but I honestly couldn’t have asked for a more faithful, snuggly little companion. And car outings with Bentley are the best. He’s the ultimate therapy dog and, although not a rescue in the true sense of the word, he’s the one who was left behind and appears to be happy that he stayed! I couldn’t imagine life without him.”

Photography credit: Strike A Pose Photography

Kate Biernacki shares Annie, who was rescued as a stray

“Annie is seven years old, and she walked into a lady’s garden when she was around 4 - 6 weeks old. She was found with the family dogs circling her. They were unable to find her owner and were highly allergic to cats, so they had to rehome her urgently. Unaware of the potential danger, they’d been trying to feed her cows’ milk only. 

“We collected her from the family and took her straight to our vet. She had a large hernia and it was touch-and-go to save her, but, gratefully, she made it through her surgery perfectly. 

“Annie is a very vocal cat but not a cuddler; everything happens on her terms – and we’re okay with that!”

Photography credit: elysian

Robyn Christenson shares Olaf (Ollie)

“Olaf, or Ollie, was found at the age of around eight months in Hopefield by Foster Love Animal Rescue. The family that had him, his mom and one sibling simply dumped them and stopped feeding them. He was a feral, scraggly mess when we got him and very petrified of people. I took one look at him and said: ‘We’ll fetch him today!’ That was three years ago now. 

“Ollie is super affectionate and loves cuddling with his family. He prefers the outdoor life; we kept him inside for a long time to acclimatise to home living again and he’s decided that he prefers spending his days outside watching the goings-on in our cul-de-sac. We’re very fortunate to have neighbours who love him as much as we do, although they can’t get too close to him. He sleeps on their trampoline, walls, roof of the enclosed pool, and his go-to when it’s raining is their pizza oven if he can’t get home in time.

“He comes home multiple times during the day and night to eat and check on his ‘subjects’. He was a dirty, scrappy looking guy when we rescued him; he’s grown into a beautiful, very fluffy floof with huge paws and an even bigger heart – we love him, and he’s enjoying this life, I think; living off whatever scraps you can find isn’t fun.”

Jacqueline Oberholzer shares Luciey, who was adopted from PAWS – Potch Animal Welfare Society

“We adopted Luciey on the 13th of October when she was around 11 months old. We lost our family dog back in July due to old age and, at the beginning of September, my husband and I decided to start our search for a pup that would be a good friend for our three-year-old Morkie, Cody.

“After what honestly felt like FOREVER (mid-October), I contacted Johan from PAWS – Potch Animal Welfare Society – and asked if they had any female doggies younger than one year. I explained exactly the pup we were looking for and was then told about a beautiful, young, super-playful pup that they’d rescued named Lucy (now spelled Luciey), that they’d saved after she was found with a broken leg.

“They’d put pins in her leg, spayed her and given her the necessary time she needed to heal before putting her up for adoption.

“The decision was made to visit PAWS where I could then meet her and decide if she’d be a good match for us.

“Well, I can honestly say that meeting Luciey for the first time took me by surprise as I’d never expected to love an animal as much as I loved her from the moment I saw her!

“She’s vibrant, playful, goofy, energetic and cuddly, with the perfect amount of naughty.

“My husband and I decided that Luciey would be a perfect addition to our small family and a perfect friend for our pup, Cody.

“The two of them now spend their days chasing each other around the yard, lazing about on our bed, or enjoying cuddle and tease time with their humans.

“I must add that, although Luciey was originally adopted as a friend for Cody, she’s truly become not only a dog, a family member, and a friend to me but has also become the best support animal I could have ever asked for.”

Photography credit: elysian

Helen Acriviadis shares Luci, adopted from Adopt-a-dog (which has since closed its doors) 

“Luci is notorious for minding her own business, sleeping through construction noise and sensing when someone is in physical pain and smothering them in love and healing energy. 

“She also loves starting fights with Sage (as most younger sisters do) but never gets the blame. I mean, how can you stay mad at a precious face like hers?”

Photo credit: Mariaan Browne

Maggie and Craig Williams share Hobie

“Hobie is a loveable little Miniature Pinscher-type doggie who’s now approximately three years old. Craig rescued her at Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth, when she was as small as the DStv remote! Craig was walking along the beachfront while waiting for Rebecca and saw two youngsters with a tiny puppy. He kept walking, but a voice in his head said, “You should check.” He went back and didn’t see them but then thought they couldn’t have gone far. Long story short, they were on the beach, trying to feed this sickly little puppy chips.

“Craig paid them R70 (all he had with him) and took her, with them protesting that they wanted more. We fostered her, with the intention of letting her be adopted (we had four other dogs at the time and didn’t want to keep another puppy). She had to be hand fed and was a very sick little puppy, with worms and a parasitic infection, ear infection, and had been accidentally stood on. She had to be rushed to the vet, who doubted she’d pull through. We prayed the whole night, distraught at the accident. But, the next morning, the vet sent a little video clip of Hobie walking towards her. We were overjoyed and decided then and there to keep her.

“She basically runs the household and is a total little busybody. She also has hyperactivity of note and is constantly on the go. She’s super intelligent, with an amazing tracker ability, despite no training. She can find the toys we’ve hidden no matter where we put them.

“We simply couldn’t imagine life without Hobie. She brings an energy to the household second to none, and her guarding an item of my clothing never fails to make us laugh. She’ll lie with my socks, and anyone that comes near her is chased away. She maps out a radius around her and the item she’s chosen to guard, and that perimeter cannot be breached, so uniquely Hobie.”

Photo credit to their foster mum: Hannah Lippold

Jani Kuipers shares Juliette and Shadow, who were adopted from PlumPets Animal Shelter

“After losing two of my other kitties (one to cancer and the other to a freak accident) earlier this year, my home was too quiet and I knew it was time to find two new additions to my family. I was still making a joke in saying that I should perhaps get a Siamese look-alike, never thinking I would…

“And a week later I saw the post on rehoming these two cuties. My heart just melted and, as they say, the rest is history.

“They’re such wonderful creatures and I can’t believe they’re the same scared little kitties from three weeks ago. The way they’ve opened up in such a short amount of time – I can’t wait to see what they’ll be like in the next six months. What a joy!”

Kirsty Lobley shares Eywa (left) and Nakoa

“I share my life with my two rescue Pit Bulls. I adopted Nakoa from Underdogs SA Pitbull Rehabilitation Centre. He’s just over a year old, and he’s beautiful. His name is Hawaiian, meaning ‘the warrior with universal energy’. He’s strong and very protective of Mommy, but his favourite thing to do is give hugs and full-face kisses. Oh, and to catch his ball like a true athlete – I’m thinking of enrolling him for agility training. Unusual for a Pit Bull, but there’s nothing ordinary about my Nakoa! 

“Eywa is five months old and a real little lady. I got her from a woman who was going to dump the puppies from an ‘accidental’ litter. She’s gorgeous and her name is Sanskrit for ‘feminine life force’ (have you watched Avatar?). She was the runt that nobody wanted. I’ve had her at the vet many times trying to find out why she’s so skinny. But the vet said there’s nothing wrong, so now Mommy calls her Heidi Klum… a sexy little supermodel. She’s looking much better and has lots of energy to cuddle every morning.

“Eywa is very subdued, and although she loves mixing with other dogs, she definitely has her favourite humans whom she trusts. She loves to stare deeply into my eyes, which always works and results in her getting whatever she wants! And as long as her big brother is nearby for emotional support and guidance, all is well. 

“My life would be empty without my fur kids. They bring me joy, teach me about patience, and get me to live outside of my own selfish needs. They’re a true gift. My life has been enriched by adopting Nakoa and Eywa!”

Mila (top left) and Jackson, Merlin (middle row) and Mitch (bottom)

Nadia Torrinha shares Jackson, Mitch, Merlin and Milla

“In August 2018 I decided I wanted to adopt a kitten and asked the ladies at the office to let me know if they heard of one. Within a day or two, one of the ladies showed me a photo of a black kitten up for adoption.

“I immediately messaged Lynette Nicholson of Nicholson Kitty Rescue enquiring about Mitch and she invited me to meet him at her house. Gabi (my seven-year-old daughter) and I went to meet him. Upon getting there, we found out that Mitch was one of three kittens. Lynette had named them Mitch, Merlin and Mila (two boys and a girl).

“They’d been found in a quarry in Krugersdorp at two or three days old, and their mom was nowhere to be found. So they’d been hand-reared and were available for adoption.

“Initially, I suggested we take two of the kittens… but who do you leave behind? So I landed up adopting all three kittens and kept their names.

“Having been hand-reared, they’re all very homely and extremely affectionate and sweet. I’d take them with me to my office each morning, and in the afternoon when the au pair fetched the girls from school, they’d pop past the office and take them home again.

“Whenever I arrive home and the outside garage door starts opening, all four cats rush to the door leading into the house and they’re all waiting for me as I walk in. And, from that moment on, they follow me around. If I go to the toilet and close the door, they sit and scratch the door to be let in.

“In 2018, my niece Kayla also adopted a stray kitten and called him Jackson. At the time, she was a university student in Pretoria. In 2020, she was expecting a baby, and that, combined with the Covid-19 lockdown, meant she had to move back home to her mom’s house. She wasn’t able to take Jackson with her as my sister had two Huskies and a German Shepherd that were not used to cats, and she worried for his safety. So, I landed up adopting Jackson too.

“He soon became a part of the family and the cats all get on very well.

“Life with our kitties is never dull. Mila loves snuggling up to me, sleeping on my arm as I work on my computer, and still ‘sucks’ on my shirts (apparently, when cats are hand-reared they sometimes never lose the need to suck).

“Jackson often joins Gabi while she sleeps. The funny thing is that he only comes along after she’s sleeping. He then crawls under her arm and snuggles with her – she isn’t even aware that he’s there. I often take these photos and send them to her so she can see them the next morning…

“They all love to hang out on my cat stand in my room and watch me work. 

“When I call the cats, they all come running from wherever they are; it’s a sight to behold!”

Photo credit: Mariaan Browne

Maggie and Craig Williams share Skye

“Skye the Boerboel was rescued at just two days old by someone on one of the networks we follow. Being on the network, we assisted with formula for her and her three surviving siblings, and popped in at the foster care mum to check on the pups. We were sometimes in time for bottle feeding and would assist, such a privilege. We were offered a puppy and, although we initially said no, eventually I said that we’d take whichever puppy wasn’t homed.

“The bigger siblings were all snatched up. Skye had a squint and was definitely the runt of the litter. Not on anyone’s list, we took her and she’s grown into the most amazing doggie, totally devoted to her family, and of course we reciprocate her love. She’s absolutely precious, and feisty towards anyone on the other side of the gate/wall!

“She has a duck toy, which I gave her when she arrived, and she’s grown up with Duck. Duck is now a relic of its former glory, but Skye still loves her duck and carries it around with her wherever she goes. Due to being removed from her mum at a young age, she ‘suckles’ on the duck, so there’s no replacing it – we’ve tried. If I wash Duck, she’ll sit outside and watch the washing line until Duck’s brought back to her 

“Skye and Hobie love going on walks and walk well together. Skye loves a drive in the car, doesn’t matter where, she’s in! She particularly enjoys the drive-thru at KFC with Rebecca! The staff are always amazed at this large dog sitting in the front seat – she definitely looks imposing and fierce. She is, however, an oversized teddy bear with all who know her, who really think she’s a lap dog.”

Pikah (left) and Genie

Diane Brooks shares Genie, adopted from African Tails, and Pikah, adopted from CAAA (Capetonians Against Animal Abuse)

“When my 17-year-old Inca went over the Rainbow Bridge, a ginger kitten was brought into the vet the very same day. He’d been found on the side of the road, near Westlake. The vet ladies persuaded me to adopt him. That was my beautiful Maui. I thought he needed a friend, so I went to all the rescue centres and just never managed to come home with another kitten.

“Enter my friend Karen, who has a cattery and fosters for African Tails. The next thing I knew, she’d handed me a little tortoiseshell kitten, which I named Genie. Maui used to beat her up something terrible, but she soon outgrew him to 8kg. She’s the sweetest, biggest softie, ever.

“Sadly, after seven years, Maui went missing. After several months of hoping and searching, we found nothing. Genie was sitting at the window each night, waiting for him to come home. Enter Karen again. This time she ‘shoved’ me into her car and drove me to see the kittens at CAAA. There were so many to choose from – I’d never actually CHOSEN a kitten before; they all chose me.

“There was a cage with a litter of five kittens; they were only eight weeks old. They were all white with spots of calico and, after cuddling them all, I decided on one with huge ears the size of pyramids. I named her Pixie but found myself calling her Pikah, Peanut, and a host of other ‘P’ words! Eventually, I changed her name to Pikah.

“She and Genie get along famously. Pikah sleeps next to my pillow and follows me around the house constantly and is absolutely adorable!

“Sadly, Maui’s body was found after six months, but at least that gave me some closure.

“Both Genie (now eight years old) and Pikah (only just 10 months old) are indoor cats and are allowed out only for short periods during the day, while I’m at home to supervise. I never take my eyes off them and they don’t leave the garden. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to my two girls!”

Annerie de Waal shares Nico and Leo

“I got Nico after he was being sold between breeders at only nine months old. He was being sold as a breeding bird, even though he’s severely disabled. Someone brought him to my attention, so I stepped in and started planning to get him to me.

“He arrived here in a very dirty box that was way too small for him; he couldn’t even sit upright. It was heartbreaking to see.

“When he got here he was in bad shape. He’d shared an aviary with other young Macaws who bullied him. He didn’t have tail or flight feathers, and his feather condition was very poor.

“He couldn’t walk and couldn’t move around.

“So, the long journey started to get this boy back to health and independence. It took over a year to sort out sores on his feet as he walks on his ankles. He needs a special cage set-up due to his disabled feet. After more than a year, the skin has hardened, so he no longer has sores.

“He grew out his tail and wings, and with that came his confidence. He bonded to my rescued male Eclectus Parrot, Leo, and the two of them have become inseparable. Leo came to me as a tiny baby with pneumonia after he aspirated on his formula. It was touch and go with him, but after four months he was finally out of the woods.

“Nico is such a happy boy and is enjoying life! He moves around, climbs, and plays like any other bird. You’d never say he’s so badly disabled by just looking at him.

“Leo is a very gentle bird and loves people. He’ll fly to anyone and just have a chat!

“They have such a beautiful friendship and are just a pleasure to have in the flock.”

Andrea Fraser shares Rascal, who was adopted from Nicholson Kitty Rescue

“We lost our precious old boy, Os, earlier this year, and our little Skittles, only a year old herself, really needed a kitty friend.

“We saw Lynette’s Nicholson Kitty Rescue’s Facebook post that Rascal was looking for his forever home and decided then and there that Rascal needed to be part of our family.

“Rascal has fitted into the family perfectly – he’s such a happy and playful boy, doesn’t stop purring! But he also has a mischievous side, so his name really suits him. We just love him to bits.”

JP Crozier shares a bit from Anubis, who was adopted from RAD (Rescued Animal Drive)

“Anubis. I wasn’t always called that, but when my dad saw my face, he knew my original name of Poncho wasn’t the right one.

“I love my new home with my other siblings. Some of my favourite things are napping in the sun and getting scratches on the left side of my body. The scratches are especially good as I’m a special doggo. You see, I was in a really bad accident and lost my left back leg. But that hasn’t slowed me down and dad says he didn’t even notice my leg was missing when he looked at my initial photos.

“I’ve been here five months and I’m really settling in!”

And JP adds... 

“Anubis has severe separation anxiety so isn’t overly fond of cuddles and love unless he asks for it, which he does by gently nudging you with his nose. He also has severe car trauma so doesn’t like leaving the house. However, he’s the most gentle, sweet and loving boy anyone could ask for, and every day I fall in love with this brave boy even more.”

Heidi Steyl shares her little rescue dogs, Peaches and Harley

“We moved into our new place two years ago and luckily the place was pet-friendly, so we decided to adopt our first doggie. I started following a few rescue organisation on Facebook, and that’s how I found little Peaches. I wanted two puppies so that they’d be friends, but hubby suggested we adopt one now and later get another one.

“We filled in the application form and, when they started asking about who’d be at home with puppy when we’re at work, I thought, ‘Okay, I’m not getting her,’ and so I started looking around again. That’s when I saw the photo of Harley on the SPCA’s site. She was so small and thin, and we decided that she needed a home. It’s so heart-breaking going to the SPCA and seeing all the dogs there. Still makes me sad just thinking about it.  

“When we started the paperwork for Harley, I got a call to say we’d been approved to adopt Peaches, and so, in the end, I got my two puppies!

“We adopted Peaches from Vaalpets and Harley (brown one) from Johannesburg SPCA.

“Peaches was the cute tiny black puppy that stole our hearts as soon as she gave her to us. She lay on my neck all the way from Vanderbiljpark to Johannesburg, where we went to collect Harley. As we stopped at the SPCA, Peaches got sick and threw up on me, ‘christened’ as a fully-fledged dog mommy! 

“Harley was so the opposite of Peaches – she wiggled so much they couldn’t take a proper photo of us. I had to sit in the back seat with Harley just to keep her still.

“When we got home, Peaches didn’t like the energy of Harley, but soon they started playing. Now they’re always together and are the best of friends. Harley was initially not very affectionate, but she’s become quite fond of cuddling. Peaches is always willing to share kisses (even at 4 o’clock in the morning) and has become very feisty; in her heart she’s a Doberman. They love their walks and most of the time it looks like they’re walking us.

“They are naughty at times, and they have ‘mommy’ and ‘daddy’ wrapped around their paws. My couch cushions will never be the same as they have a bed but prefer to lie on top of the cushions.

“They hated water at first, but as they got older, they started loving it. It’s a mission trying to use the hose in the garden as Harley keeps biting the spray. Harley also lies in front of the shower waiting for someone to finish so she can go in and ‘bite’ the few drops from the shower head. When she looks at you with those puppy-dog eyes (and she moans), we’ll run the water for her. They still don’t love bathing, but spraying water is their favourite.
 
“We took them on holiday with us and they just love running around on the beach. They weren’t fans of the waves, but rock pools were better until water rose from the waves, then they got on the rocks. The monkeys drove them mad and, every morning at 09h00, there was barking and moaning at these ‘creatures’ on the roof and in the trees.   

“We love our two girls to bits and can’t imagine our lives without them.”