Mandy (left) and Monty
By Paws R Us: SA Team
Professional photography by Tania Cholwich Photography
Last year, we became involved in a very unique case. One that was both painful and beautiful – yin and yang. Maureen, 82 years old at the time and a former nurse, had been diagnosed with terminal colon cancer and given a few months to live. Her beloved dogs, Monty and Mandy, were her entire world, and her greatest wish was that they’d remain safe, loved and treasured. Knowing that the sands of time would run out, Maureen approached us to ask if we’d find them a special human and a second chance to know love.
We were truly astounded. In the 13 years of our time in animal welfare, no one had ever approached us in a situation like this one. Knowing how painful the entire journey would be for Maureen, we signed up to help her realise her last wish. In August 2022, we took the networking photographs for Monty and Mandy – two former rescued dogs who’d found their “heaven” with Maureen.
The photo album was shared more than 3,000 times and gave these two special dogs maximum exposure. With Monty being so very skittish and unsure, and Mandy being so closely bonded with Maureen, we knew we’d have to find a miracle. Whoever stepped up to become their family would need to be gentle enough, brave enough, selfless enough, and savvy enough.
POWERFUL MAGIC
In December 2022, the Universe worked its powerful magic and ushered Glenda and Berndt into the picture. A soft-natured and kind couple, devoted to their dog, Lily, and their cats, and moved by the story of Maureen’s final journey and her last wish for her beloved dogs. Glenda and Berndt wanted to offer the safe landing place that Monty and Mandy would need when the time came – the cocoon of a loving home and an understanding family.
The first meet-and-greet went well and started a remarkable kinship – aimed at both supporting Maureen in the last chapters of her life and building the bond with Monty and Mandy.
From December 2022 to November 2023, this incredible relationship unfolded – every visit between Maureen, Glenda and Berndt weaving a bridge, connecting the present and the future, and ensuring the safety and continued love for two little rescued dogs.
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
Many families who walk the terminal cancer journey will testify of a period of stillness, an almost “golden” period in which the advance of the illness appears to “pause” and the relentless forward movement is halted. A time of suspension. A long inhale of breath. For months, Maureen’s health held strong, the outcome inevitable, but the days and the weeks filled with purpose, kinship, friends, preparations. As we moved from summer into winter 2023, Maureen put her house on the market, sold most of her things, visited with her sister and circle of friends, and spent the silent moments with her thoughts and her dogs.
Glenda and Berndt continued to visit, often bringing a home-cooked meal, and continuing to build their connection with Maureen, Monty and Mandy. On one occasion, Maureen went to visit Glenda and Berndt’s house and got the chance to see where her furry children would go when the time came – the lovely garden with the pretty flowers in the backyard that would offer space, sunshine, and resting places for the two dogs. In turn, Monty and Mandy got to meet Lily and the cats, and the first connections between the animals were formed.
As the cold fingers of winter finally left Johannesburg and spring waved its magic wand to bring colour to the world, Maureen’s health began to decline. The period of suspension. The long inhale of breath. The “golden moment”. Over. In a matter of 2-3 months, the pain escalated significantly, and in the early hours of the 8th of November 2023, Maureen passed away.
Mandy, who’d always been so closely connected with Maureen, went and lay on Maureen’s bed for the whole of the first day. A curled up fluffy ball. Mandy was mourning in her way, coming to terms with the loss of her human and the imminent changes. The world wouldn’t be the same again.
COMPLETING THE CIRCLE
On the 9th of November, Monty and Mandy were collected by Glenda and Berndt – the completion of a perfectly painful and beautiful circle. All in accordance with Maureen’s last wish for her beloved dogs.
Monty and Mandy would never know the turmoil of being stranded, of becoming orphans, of having no safe place to go. Unlike thousands of animals in this country who are collateral damage in the wake of the various endings in human lives, Monty and Mandy would remain treasured, loved, and safe. Maureen’s wishes have become a beautiful reality.
MONTY & MANDY IN THEIR NEW HOME
After agreeing to adopt Monty and Mandy almost 10 months prior, Glenda and Berndt finally drove to Maureen’s home to collect them in November 2023. They’d waited and journeyed with Maureen and the dogs over the months leading to Maureen’s passing. They were no longer strangers. They were friends. They were family.
In a beautiful gesture, and by mutual agreement, they took Mandy’s favourite chair (which had previously stood in Maureen’s room and on which Mandy had slept every night), and they took the couch in Maureen’s lounge that had always been Monty’s favourite place. In this way, the two dogs would have their reminders of their former life and their human Mama, and would feel safe, even in the midst of all the changes.
In their new home they’ve become friends with the two dogs, Lily and Lady, and they’ve been so good about integrating with the cats. It’s not been smooth sailing. Mandy has struggled from the outset and has needed a lot of space and TLC to regain her centre and her rhythm. Monty has handled the transition better but has also needed time to settle and understand the changes.
Glenda and Berndt’s own animals have had to adjust to the newcomers and open their furry family circle to integrate and become friends. Now, almost three months later, we’re seeing the rewards for Glenda and Berndt’s patience and perseverance.
Thank you for being such sterling humans, for stepping up and opening your hearts and your home to Maureen, Monty and Mandy, and having so much patience, resilience, and love. We could never have wished for a better resting place for these two precious dogs. We could never have dreamed of finding better humans.
We haven’t a shadow of doubt that your commitment and your presence brought deep reserves of support and hope to a human in the last year of her life. You brought peace where there was worry; you brought calm where there was uncertainty.
Blessings to you, Glenda and Berndt.
Glenda, Monty and Mandy’s owner, shares...
Our Lily lost her beloved sister, Lola, during November 2022. They were a match made in heaven – we were all devastated, especially Lily, who became a very lonesome and restless soul. Being a great animal lover, I joined various Facebook rescue groups to network lost, found and needy animals. One evening in December 2022 I stumbled across a post from Paws-R-Us (SA) with Maureen’s last wish to find a home for her beloved doggies and this was the beginning of Monty and Mandy’s new chapter and most of all, Maureen’s last wish becoming a reality, and as an added bonus, a bonding relationship between ourselves, Maureen, Monty and Mandy during Maureen’s last 11 months on earth.
We welcomed Monty and Mandy into our hearts and home during November 2023. The introduction to their new sisters, Lily and Lady, was a breeze and they settled in quickly and comfortably. They took well to the five cats, although they were never introduced to cats whilst living with Maureen who, by the way, adopted them a few years ago from unfavourable conditions.
We brought Monty’s couch and Mandy’s chair home to ensure they feel safe with something familiar which would remind them of a wonderful life with Maureen, which they had to exchange for a new life with many uncertainties ahead of them.
They say it takes time to settle in and we never know their real inner emotions – the first three days, three weeks and three months are crucial.
Eleven months later they’re happy and healthy dogs. They have such diverse personalities. Monty’s the more social and outgoing one, whist Mandy still tends to pick the quiet corner in the room; she prefers to settle herself into the corner under the chair in the dining room, whilst Monty loves spending his days on the couch in the lounge.
They caught on very quickly from sis Lily, who taught them to dash to the gate and bark at anything and everyone. Morning rituals entail rushing down the stairs to the kitchen door, barking and howling whilst I unlock the doors, then dashing out to sniff and seek for any uninvited guests (a few cats) who passed through our yard during the night – also led by sis Lily. Then they rush back into the kitchen and wait in anticipation to be rewarded with a snack.
The beauty of Monty and Mandy’s story is one of a pet owner who cared so deeply for her soulmates, Monty and Mandy. Maureen knew it was her responsibility to plan ahead and ensure that Monty and Mandy had a new family when the day came that she would no longer be on earth. It’s an honour for us to have fulfilled Maureen’s wishes, and out of this friendships were made. Maureen’s friends from the estate are close-knit family; they’re in contact with Maureen’s sister, Clara, who, invited five ladies over to her place for lunch a few weeks ago. She treated us to a feast – all home-made delicacies – and that at the age of 86! We had a fantastic morning and afternoon and will continue to meet and share stories and memories.
