MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Known by his family, friends and colleagues for his fierce love of animals and unwavering dedication to his work at the K9 Langeberg Unit, Mossel Bay's Warrant Officer Pierre Botes will be missed by all who knew him.
Botes (55) passed away earlier this week.
His wife, Celna Botes, gave a touching tribute to her husband, telling Mossel Bay Advertiser that she met him in Graaff-Reinet 30 years ago.
Celna said she had been working as a physiotherapist and treated Pierre for a sport injury. The pair were married in 1996.
"Pierre was a silent man. He did not talk a lot, but when animals were involved, he had a big voice," she said.
"Animal cruelty was something he could not face. During the last couple of years, he started feeding the stray cats around the dog unit. This became his pet project.
Celna said: "He bought food for the cats and the kittens out of his own pocket and many of the sick or lonesome kittens ended up at our home."
Warrant Officer Botes helped stray animals whenever he could and brought many dogs and cats to his home.
"He would spend his last cent to make sure they had food and he fed them every day, even when he was off duty.
"The normally aggressive, wild cats purred next to him, allowing him to touch them and sometimes he also gave them medicine."
Celna said Pierre loved golf, but also enjoyed all sports and could watch any game.
He was her rock and would always be her soulmate, she said.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies said Botes had joined the police in 1989 and became a member of the dog unit in 1994.
The K9 Langeberg Unit commander, Captain Debbie Greeff, said Botes had an "incredible passion for animals, especially for dogs".
Warrant Officer Pierre Botes loved animals.
She noted: "That's why Warrant Officer Botes became part of the dog unit family.
"He was a man of few words, but always made time to startle someone or play a prank. He had a deep passion for his work as a dog handler and loved playing golf. The SAPS and dog unit family will surely miss him. Rest in peace, our great friend and colleague," she said.
Spies said the funeral for Botes would take place at the NG Moedergemeente church in Church Street, Mossel Bay, at 11:00 on Tuesday, 1 July.
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