By Thembekile Ntsele
I adopted Skye-Jojo in June 2022. I was going through a dark season and felt an urgent need for a companion. I grew up with dogs because my father loved them, but this time I needed one of my own. I wanted a dog I could love deeply. I wanted one who could help fill the quiet space I carried that year.
Six months later, after searching for a companion who matched my energy, my moment came. I had promised myself that the dog who made me feel calm and certain would be the one.
My neighbour, five houses down, had puppies. I did not know this until my brother mentioned it in passing. I went to see them immediately.
Their mother had passed away, and the owner did not know what to do with them. All the puppies had brindle coats, brown and black stripes, and some had white markings.
But one stood out. Light brown stripes. White paws. A white chest. She looked at me, and I knew.
That was Skye-Jojo.
She was only three weeks old when I adopted her. I knew little about breeds. I thought she was a Golden Retriever.
Later, I learned she is an Africanis, a proudly South African breed often found in townships, known affectionately as Bobby or Spoti. She was not a so-called fancy breed. But I promised her a beautiful life.
The Road Was Not Smooth
Being a dog parent came with judgment.
Some people asked why I did not rather have a baby. Others mocked me for treating her like family. They questioned why she was allowed on my couch. Why she slept on my bed. Why I cooked for her instead of feeding only dry kibble. Why I bought treats. Why I celebrated her birthday.
At first, those comments hurt. Then I realised something important.
I was the one who carried myself through that dark season. I was the one who needed a living being who would look at me as if I were their entire world. Skye-Jojo gave me that. She celebrated me every time I walked into a room. Even if I had only stepped away for five minutes.
Our Scariest Chapter
A few months after adopting her, she fell seriously ill.
I panicked. I rushed around trying to find transport, praying an Uber driver would allow a dog in the car. He did. He stayed with us through that entire week. He later became our regular driver.
Skye-Jojo vomited constantly. Her small body grew weak. She started limping. I still do not know how she injured her paw. It was terrifying.
The vet diagnosed parvovirus, a deadly disease in puppies.
She survived.
That week changed everything for me. I understood how fragile life is. I also understood how deeply I loved her. Four years later, we are inseparable. People now call me Mama ka Skye. She is deeply loved.
The Best Part of Loving My Africanis Princess
I live with anxiety. Skye senses it before I say a word.
She sits under my table. She follows me from room to room. She scratches gently at my bedroom door if I close it. She lies next to me during naps. She stares at me in a way that feels grounding.
When I overthink, she seems to say, “You are safe.”
I tell her I love her. She rolls onto her back for belly rubs. I talk to her about everything. She does not understand the words, but she understands me. After I vent, she responds with kisses, toys, or a deep, contented sigh.
She is protective. She is loyal. She made me a mother long before I ever expected it.
Skye-Jojo did not only find a home. She gave me one inside myself.
8 Pawsome Facts About Skye-Jojo
• She understands Sesotho and isiZulu. The only English words she knows are “food” and “sit”.
• Her favourite vegetable is carrots.
• She prefers playing with plastic soda bottles over toys.
• Her second favourite human is my sister.
• She only accepts belly rubs from my brother.
• She collaborated with two pet brands in 2023 and 2025.
• Her nickname is Jojokie.
• She is my parents’ first granddaughter.
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