Michael English
Cape Town, South Africa
Mad Dogs and Englishmen
Man’s best friend. Dogs are used to detect anything from cancer to COVID or contraband or for tracking poachers. They are protectors, companions, and friends - especially in the African bush. Karen Blixen, of Out of Africa fame, had faithful Irish Wolf Hounds on her Kenyan Coffee Farm.
In his book The Story of the African Dog, Johan Gallant delves into the history of dogs in Africa. Gallant states that when the Portuguese explorers arrived in Africa, the San and Hottentot people already had dogs. The most famous dogs are the ones immortalised through books. They were the companions of some of the early colonial explorers. They accompanied their masters everywhere.
Jock of the Bushveldt, by Sir James Percy FitzPatrick
Jock of the Bushveldt
Perhaps the most famous African dog is Jock of Jock of the Bushveldt, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross. Jock’s exploits, and adventures in the 1880s in the Transvaal bush were recounted by his human, author Sir James Percy FitzPatrick. Jock has many exciting encounters during FitzPatrick's days as a Transport Rider in the Transvaal. Jock too took encountered snakes including Mambas!
Jock grew up to become an excellent hunting dog who helped Percy hunt game such as Kudus and Impalas. Jock also was fearless and took on dangerous opponents such as Porcupines with their sharp quills and was not averse to trying to take on Hyena, Lion, and Crocodiles too. He even attempted to intervene in a fight between Baboons and a Leopard (called a “Tiger” in the book), which is an incredibly dangerous escapade.
Sadly, Jock was killed in a case of mistaken identity, by a farmer who thought Wild Dogs were killing his chickens – meanwhile, Jock had already dealt with the marauding intruder. Jock's story became world-famous and is one of the best-known tales about dogs in Africa.
Today visitors can visit the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga, which is where Jocks adventures took place. Pass through the towns of Barberton and Lydenberg mentioned in the book. They can visit his statue situated outside the town hall in Barberton. Tourists can stay in the historic gold mining town of Pilgrims Rest, which has been preserved as a national monument, just as it was when Jock slept under FitzPatrick's feet in the bar in the Royal Hotel.
Visitors can experience the bush that Jock loved by staying at Jock Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park, which was built using funds from the Fitzpatrick Trust in the heart of all the places which Jock loved.
Killer
K9 Ranger Killer
Continuing the legacy of Jock in the region are members of the K9 Anti-poaching unit in the Kruger National Park. The most famous of which is K9 Ranger Killer. Killer was awarded the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) Gold Medal in 2016 for tracking down and helping apprehend 115 poachers in just four years.
Ranger Killer and his handler, Amos Mzimba, are flown by helicopter to track and apprehend armed poachers when sighted or when a dead Rhino was discovered. In a world-first, Killer was allowed into the courtroom, where Amos acted as his voice to give testimony against poachers, leading to many successful convictions. In his working life, he helped lead to the apprehension and conviction of over 200 Rhino poachers.
Sadly, Killer had to be put down at the age of 11 years in June 2020. He was suffering from a degenerative illness. He was mourned by many South Africans and Conservationists around the world, if not by poachers. However, his canine colleagues continue this important work in the Kruger National Park.
Just Nuisance AB Photo Credit: Australian War Memorial
Just Nuisance
Another of South Africa’s most famous dogs was Just Nuisance. He was a Great Dane who became famous around the British Naval Base at Simons Town. He was a very friendly dog who loved the Sailors as they treated him to pies, titbits, and even beer. He would follow them aboard the ships moored at the base, with a particular favourite being HMS Neptune, where he would often lie right at the top of the gangplank and refuse to move. The sailors always commented “You’re just a nuisance!” as they stepped over him, hence he got his name.
Just Nuisance would also follow the Sailors on shore leave onto the trains to the city of Cape Town. Just Nuisance began to ride the trains regularly until the rail authority wanted to have him put down for being a nuisance. This greatly upset his many Navy friends who appealed to the Commander-in-Chief to intervene. It was decided that Just Nuisance would be enlisted into the Royal Navy as Able Seaman Just Nuisance. This would enable him to travel the railways for free like other Sailors.
While he never served at sea, but some Airmen at Wingfield Airbase took him up for the occasional spin in their plane! He got into many scrapes, fights with other dogs, and was a beloved nuisance as his conduct sheet attests. Sadly, he was put down on the 1st of April 1944, as he was being paralysed from an injury sustained in a motor accident. He was treated as a human and taken to the ward at the Simons Town Naval Hospital. His legend lives on to this day. There is a much-visited statue in his honour in Simons Town and you can also visit his grave in the nearby cemetery.
Benji and one of his Foes Photo Credit: Michael English
Benji
Our dog, Benji lived on the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, a still wild beautiful place. Ben was a fearless hunter, especially of anything that scuttled, slithered, or chattered - from meter long Water Monitor Lizards to venomous Mozambique Spitting Cobras. He would kill several cobras a month.
He had a daily game challenging the Vervet Monkeys stealing mangoes off the tree. He once found a Crocodile in the swimming pool. His dutiful alarm skills even alerted my Father to a Cobra in his bedroom in the middle of the night.
This kamikaze bravery was dangerous. While Benji was a faithful shadow, if he spotted a likely quarry, nothing would deter him from the chase. Ben had proved adept at tackling Cobras, but we knew that a should he encounter a Mamba, it would be a different story as they are much faster snakes.
Sadly, one evening last month, it was a Black Mamba he found in the garden next to the garage. The snake was not far from where my Father stood in a pair of sandals. Ben, in a spurt of courageous zeal, took on the Mamba, before my Father could see what was happening. In the Mamba, Ben met his match. He died as he lived, in the thrill of the chase, defending his territory and family from intruders.
Just Nuisance AB Simons Town©Flyga Twiga LLC
Although not a Dog of Africa, Fynbos Asan, Dog of South Korea, loves assisting in all projects Africa! ©Flyga Twiga LLC