People and their pooches

Antoinette Pienaar

The leader of Antoinette Pienaar's greyhound pack is Mam Ama Môrester. Her three daughters, Voorloper, Muana and Hanna, also have the Môrester surname.

Then there are the whippets: Benjamin Blomtuin, Lena Blomtuin, Kliprosie Blomtuin en Booi-baie-dinge Blomtuin. 

Max du Preez

“Her name on the vet's book was Buttercup," says Max du Preez.

“I wanted to name her Heidi, after the supermodel Heidi Klum, because when I picked her up from the Animal Welfare Society in Darling 10 years ago she was the most beautiful dog I had ever seen. My family disagreed. When I talk to her today, I mostly call her ‘My Kween' or ‘Jou mooi ding' (isn't it a proven fact that all dogs are actually Afrikaans?).

“She is a typical Africanis hybrid — you see dogs with her build all over Africa in little towns and townships. My Kween is an essential part of my mental health — she comes every hour to see if I'm still okay. And then I am."

Ashwin Arendse

Ashwin Arendse has nine dogs. 

“On the left is Elle, she's 12 months old. She's the life of the party; in the photo she is just tired of partying.

“On the right is Goku, 23 months old. I don't think I've ever had a dog so loyal and loving. Everyone who meets him wants to take him home."

The names of the rest of his pack are Dior, Dumbledore, Akira, Khaleesi, Bruno, Anja and Axe.

Beezy Bailey 

Beezy Bailey with seven-year-old Teddy on his lap. “I’m his grandfather (my son’s dog). He gets into my bed in the morning. He is as soft as silk but he is not a dog. He is a long-legged running mouse or goose-anything, but not a dog.

“In front is Rufus. His nickname is Custard Boy because he is so sweet and comforting. Anatolian shepherd. Brilliant watchdog who patrols the property at night."

Anneliese Burgess

Anneliese Burgess with her daughter, godchildren and Snowy. “Snowy is 11. In this photo she was two. She is my shadow. She follows me everywhere, sleeps next to me, comes to sit on the sofa in the kitchen when I cook and lies on my feet when I write. And even now, with her older, plumpish body, she still walks long distances with me every day. I can't imagine being in this world without her one day."

Conrad Botes 

Conrad Botes' beloved whippets are Max and Zara. They are 11 and nine years old, respectively.

“Max is a masterly rat catcher. Sometimes rats come into my chicken coop, and he will sit and wait for hours until he spots one. And will then weave through the chickens like lightning until he has the rat.

“Zara has a very extroverted personality and likes to chat. She makes the strangest noises when she does this.

“They love running around, especially on the beach where they run around like greased lightning. But once they are at home, they are very calm and behave more like cats than dogs.

“Full speed on the beach. Zero speed at home."

Rachelle Greeff

Rachelle Greeff with Rebecca Sophia. Sophia is her surname.

Eben Venter

Eben Venter's father always said his dogs could talk, they just couldn't write. And it's like that with Twiggy and Prince as well.

“Twiggy the whippet is a slim, clever soul who suddenly looms behind you when you brush your teeth; and Prince, well, one can only hope that your next lover will be like him: sensual and warm-hearted, always cheerful and ready for everything, and he especially wants to sit on your lap."

Louis de Villiers

Louis de Villiers says: “Skolé survived five or six weeks on the street as a small dog and the little guy has issues, but he comes and puts his paw in my hand when I go to sleep at night and has a crazy smile."

Kerneels Breytenbach

Kerneels Breytenbach's dogs are both 10 years old.

The big white dog's name is Elma.

“Her father or mother was a Labrador or an Africanis. She has the wise yet mischievous soul of the woman Virginia Woolf was in love with. The black pug is Bijoux. We mostly call her Gogga. She is blind and deaf and likes food very much.

“With Gogga, we feel we are always on the threshold of a biblical miracle. She can't see or hear anything but is instantly cheered up when someone crumples a candy wrapper."

♦ VWB ♦

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