Dogs, owners enjoy special day

Gallery Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - Dog owners love challenges and so do their dogs.

This was quite clear at the Garden Route SPCA's Doggy Fun Walk hosted on Saturday, 10 October at the Hartenbos Seefront.

Sean Snyman, Municipal Councillor from George and a member of the Garden Route SPCA is currently practising for a 10km walk at Lientjiesklip at Wilderness on Saturday, 14 November. The walk is to raise money for a child with diabetes who needs plasters to control his sugar level instead of his fingers being pricked on a daily basis to test his sugar levels.

On Saturday, Sean and his walking partners, Flame and Ice, both Huskies, travelled to Mossel Bay to take part in the SPCA Doggy Funwalk. Sean and his companions completed the 3km route and then decided to do it again.

Photo gallery: GRSPCA Doggy Walk

This time he was up for a challenge and said he would complete the 2km section on the beach in less than 25 minutes. And he did.

Watch a video below:

Rina Meintjes from Dana Bay, with her two collies joined in, as did Bettie Brits with her dog, Rambo and Glynnes Karlsson from Monte Christo with her rescued dog, Beachbum. The three humans and five furry friends raised an extra R300 for the SPCA by doing the second walk.

Glynnes and Beachbum share a lovely history. Beachbum apparently used to live on the beach at Hartenbos. People knew about this dog living on the beach, but nobody could catch him. Glynnes, accompanied by her own dog, Ruby a border collie, met the "homeless dog" when he came to introduce himself to Ruby. When their eyes met, Glynnes just knew that she had to have Beachbum, but he had other ideas and would still could not be caught. At some stage the SPCA did manage to capture him and he was kept at Mossel Bay before being transferred to George.

At that stage, Glynnes and her husband were abroad. But, on their return, Glynnes by pure coincidence saw Beauchbum up for adoption in the George Herald. Since the two were formerly acquainted, Beachbum found his home.

"When I brought him home for the first two nights I slept with his leash around my ankle for fear of him running away. It took two months before he wagged his tail for the first time," Glynnes says. "He was very scared, but today he wows everybody with his exceptional personality."

At the Dog Show hosted after the Funwalk, Beachbum was named runner up in the Best Rescue category.

Glynnes Karlsson and Beachbum (centre) share a special bond. He was named runner-up in the Best Rescue category.