Written by Dr Rivona Ramnanan
Professional photography by Antony Cousens Photography
On the 1st of October 2019, little did I know that my life would change forever. At the time I was working at Lower South Coast SPCA in KwaZulu-Natal when a stray dog was brought in after being attacked by other dogs on the side of the road. I sedated and stitched up the dog, but I didn’t think much of it, as treating stray and sick animals is part of the job when you’re a vet at a welfare clinic.
For some reason, this dog, a chubby Border Collie look-alike, had instantly bonded to me. She’d always find me, no matter where I was at the SPCA. I didn’t know her, but she behaved as if she’d been my dog for her entire life. She was so obsessed with me that I called her Daisy, because it rhymes with “crazy”.
As per SPCA rules and regulations, Daisy awaited her stray period, and I waited for her owner to come bursting through the doors; it would be an emotional reunion. However, no one came. Daisy didn’t seem to mind, though. Whenever someone would open Daisy’s cage, she’d push past them, find me, and then follow me around as I carried out my duties. She’s so smart – she’d casually open the consult door and join me mid-consultations. Everyone would ask, “How did you train your dog so well?”, or say, “Wow, your dog loves you so much,” only to look shocked to hear she wasn’t mine; I’d just met her, and no one had come forward for her.
Daisy seemed to make up her mind that she was my dog. I had no choice but to fill out the adoption forms and legally finalise that she was mine. I sterilised over 1000 dogs in 2019, but it was nerve-racking to perform a surgery on my own dog. I’d wanted my own dog for a long time and had fostered many, but I hadn’t met the dog I was looking for. This dog came into my life out of nowhere and, somehow, it was perfect.
My family didn’t know yet that I’d adopted a dog, but I did. My parents have a Pekingese named Oreo who was known not to be friendly with other dogs. One weekend Daisy came with me to my family home in Durban. My parents were shocked to find out I’d adopted a dog, and Oreo was displeased. Oreo barked and made it known to poor Daisy that she was definitely not welcome. As the weekend progressed, my parents and boyfriend could see why Daisy was the dog for me. She’d follow me wherever I went and was smart enough to listen and execute every command. In the weeks that followed, Oreo and Daisy became best friends. In fact, they’re now inseparable.
Since adopting Daisy, life has become more colourful. She’s an active dog, so I have no choice but to be fit. She loves to run, chase after hadedas, and go to the beach, and she’s an impressive swimmer. I’d like to think she enjoys being a vet’s dog. She used to come with me when I went to the townships to treat rural animals. She’d sit patiently on the sidelines waiting for me to finish what I was doing.
I also diagnosed Daisy with moderate hip dysplasia and helped her lose weight (she lost 10kgs!), and I managed her condition accordingly. Her hip condition has recently affected her right knee, causing her patella (kneecap) to luxate. Unfortunately, surgery was the only option, but Daisy is now on the mend and walking better than ever. I call her Daisy 2.0!
This October is our first “Adoptaversary”. Daisy is the dog of my dreams. She somehow knows everything I feel without saying anything at all. She’s my fiercest protector and the best cuddle buddy I know. Daisy came into my life out of nowhere, and she somehow crept into my heart and has overwhelmed me with so much happiness and joy. There’s not a more suited dog to my personality. Some people say, “Everyone thinks that they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.” I wholeheartedly feel this way about Daisy.
