In 2001 two donkeys were rescued from a miserable existence, blindfolded and walking endlessly in circles to mix mud and straw in a brick-making arrangement just outside the little village of McGregor in the Western Cape. They found a home with Johan and Annemarie van Zijl who had recently retired there. It quickly became evident that there were many more donkeys in need of help and the concept of a
Working with animals has always been a passion of mine. Ever since I can remember, I had wanted to be an “animal doctor”. I was lucky enough to grow up in a small coastal town in KZN and spent many a weekend on my Uncle’s farm, enjoying the outdoor activities and wildlife. Like most vets, I qualified from Onderstepoort and ventured out into the world with great ambitions and a
Late in June 2018, the Camdeboo Sterilisation Initiative (CSI) was contacted by a kind person who was taking her domestic worker back home to the township, when she noticed a dog being tied at the side of the road, with a group of children gathered around it. She stopped to investigate what was going on, upon which the children ran away. She could see that the dog was hurt, as
Getting a pet is a joyful, exciting, and fulfilling experience. So why do you feel like you’ve made the biggest mistake of your life, and
Sloths are divided into two main categories: two-toed and three-toed sloths, which are distinguished by the number of claws on their forelimbs. The scientific name
by Bryony Van Niekerk Remember, remember the 5th of November. With the end of year fast approaching that means it is almost time for the
Nestled within the lush landscapes of South Africa, Dog Town SA has blossomed into a renowned sanctuary for dogs in need, a testament to its
Axolotls are not fish but amphibians from the family Ambystomatidae (order Caudata). Their scientific name is Ambystoma mexicanum. The name ‘axolotl’ comes from the Nahuatl
by Bryony Van Niekerk There have been quite a few changes to our household over the last few years which has resulted in two new
I think it was Sarah Ban Breathnach who famously said, “The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all the world needs
BY BRIAN BERKMAN Luxury travel writer, brian berkman, searches out the fabulous and often affordable options available to you and your pets. Julie, his rescued
The Blue Crane is the national bird of South Africa. It’s also known as the Stanley crane and the Paradise crane. The scientific name “Anthropoides
by Bryony Van Niekerk In this digital age all our memories, moments and achievements are all tied up on our phone, social media pages or
Legacy in Leadership Interviewing and writing about the Mayor of Cape Town is no small task, especially when the individual is as influential as Mayor
The aardwolves belong to the sub-family Hyaeninae and its scientific name is Proteles cristatus. Despite its name, the aardwolf is a member of the hyena
by Bryony Van Niekerk It’s no secret that I love dogs, cats, rats, pandas, giraffes. Basically, any animal that I encounter I just want to
As I sit down to write this tribute, memories flood back of the day I had the privilege of meeting Joanne Lefson and her beloved
Balancing the demands of a flourishing music career with the responsibilities of family life is a delicate art that South African pop/rock sensation Francois van
by Bryony Van Niekerk Hello, my name is Bryony and I suffer from dog mom guilt. I feel guilty if we don’t go on a
Grasshoppers and Locust belong to the order Orthoptera, which also includes crickets and katydids. Locusts are actually species of short-horned grasshoppers. Grasshoppers existed long before
BY BRIAN BERKMAN Luxury travel writer, brian berkman, searches out the fabulous and often affordable options available to you and your pets. Julie, his rescued
Healthy Options and Homemade Delights Training your dog is a rewarding experience, and using the right treats can make all the difference. Choosing healthy and
Depending on where you are situated in the country, you are either still stuck in perpetual winter, just stepping into spring or gone straight into
