Narrated by Tracy Mistry of Langebaan Animal Care (LAC)
Professional photography by Leigh Le Roux Photography and NeedOutdoors
I really want to share these moments with you in the hope that the heartless person who left me to fend for myself will read this and realise that I won this one! How could you? Rant over.
Hungry, lonely, terrified, cold, ill and losing hope. I was left to die on the side of the road with nothing. I just didn’t deserve this.
Then a miracle happened: yes, LAC came for me. They scooped me up and took me in. I managed to keep my eyes open wide the whole time to make sure I knew what was going on. I was given food, shelter and love, and from this day my whole life changed forever…
Luckily, I was taken into foster immediately as the shelter was too much for me and I needed 24/7 care to pull through.
The vet also gave me all I needed to get on my paws again. I managed to take in some food, but this was very hard as I didn’t know how to digest it. I also had severe tick fever.
Each day I got stronger and started to enjoy life with my foster family. I wanted to help with everything and make the best of every moment and always will!
After many months of rehab I’d gained weight and even went to the beach. It was all rather overwhelming, but I knew I could do this.
Even though I was happy in my foster home, one day a lovely couple visited and they seemed interested in me. The very next day I went to my new home on the beach and it was pawsome!
I’ll never look back and thank everyone who saved me and gave me a second chance.
Please enjoy my journey, and should you too want to make a difference by adopting, there are lots of special dogs like me to meet at https://langebaananimalcare.org/dogs/
Without LAC’s volunteers and valued supporters, I wouldn’t have been able to share my story with you!
Watch Alki’s video here https://fb.watch/lDw-3ykGaa/?mibextid=j8LeHn
Mirna Rautenbach, Alki’s owner, shares...
Never before have Anton and I had an animal friend in our lives that’s become an extension of our family – and then some. Quite simply, we couldn’t live without him!
White-and-black Alki came into our lives out of necessity, really, as Anton was travelling for weeks at a time and I needed a companion (and an alarm against possible danger!).
It was a love at first sight the moment I visited the LAC website and saw a picture of this beautiful creature available for adoption.
That was the easy part… Foster parents Tracy and Rob put us through our paces with a visit to Alki’s home in Langebaan, background checks and an inspection of Alki’s possible new home!
It was evident this was a heart-wrenching moment for the fosters, particularly Rob, but they gave the green light and Alki joined our family.
Alki steals the hearts of everyone he meets, without exception. From offers of walking him to surreptitious handing of droëwors (dry sausage) and treats under the table at dinner parties.
We’ve become known as Alki’s parents, and we still remain nameless to many, unlike our brave soul, Alki the Brave!
We’ve seen Alki experience a lot of “firsts” since he joined us.
First time swimming in the sea (took a bit of convincing from his pawfriends).
First time experiencing a ceiling fan (not as amusing for Alki as it was for us – he refused to join us for bedtime until it was switched off!).
Barking like crazy at a deck chair on the beach and a body-boarder’s flippers.
Encountering a tortoise and cows on our weekend getaways to the farm.
Seeing him meeting “little people” (kids) was very interesting… he’s so gentle with them, even sharing his toys.
The firsts are getting fewer as he ventures further with us, but I’m sure there are a few more waiting to surprise him.
We were warned by Tracy that his tummy was very sensitive and we should follow the 6-hour feeding regime, which we did diligently. In the early stages, Alki did experience some spasms in the early hours of the morning which made us feel absolutely helpless and had us both in tears. Some massaging and stroking and, a few hours later, he fell asleep across our laps.
The ensuing spasms weren’t as shocking for us over the next few weeks but still really uncomfortable for dear Alki. Touch wood, these are now a thing of the past.
A year after Alki joined our family, we bought Poetsies Deli in our hometown, St Helena Bay, which meant a huge change in our normal daily routine. We thought he should join us at “work” every day. Again, he was immediately loved and spoiled by all our customers. We even had a friend make him “work clothes” – a snazzy bandana with his name on it! But he seemed to be very nervous with this new environment, not adapting to it after a week or two, and we couldn’t have that. So we had to make a plan that would suit his needs while we took care of business. We found this incredible place called Blue Moon Happy Paws Wellness Centre right here in our town. And, just like that, Alki found a place where he can play with his pawpals every day, being loved and taken care of by Natalie and Johan.
We have so many stories to tell about Alki; the way he communicates is just incredible! He has different ways in which he asks for food, to go outside, to go for yet another beach walk, to get in our bed, etc.
We love our Alki with all our hearts and cannot imagine ever being without him. He simply is our child.
