VIDEO: Home with his family: Northdene’s Hunter recovering well
While Hunter is back home, his owner, Charlie van Heerden is being mourned by both his family, the Northdene community as well as the cycling and other sporting communities.
THE dog that took a bullet trying to save the life of its owner during an attempted home invasion almost two weeks ago, has returned home.
While Hunter’s family is relieved to have the beloved pitbull home, they are mourning the death of the dog’s owner, Charles (Charlie) van Heerden, who died in hospital a few days after the incident.
He was a husband, father, and grandfather.
ALSO READ: Northdene resident shot in ‘botched house robbery’ dies
The Highway Mail visited the family’s Northdene home on Sunday to see how Hunter has progressed since it was rushed to the vet after the shooting.
“I am sure he knows that Charlie is gone,” said Van Heerden’s wife, Hettie.
“Charlie was the one who usually fed the dogs, and now that he isn’t here, I am sure they both miss him and are noticing his absence,” she said.
On the road to a full recovery, Hunter was in top form when a troop of monkeys visited the family’s yard.
Hunter, and its fellow canine companion, bounded around and chased the vervet monkeys. The two canines eventually had to be separated to ensure they didn’t harm each other in their excitement.
On Saturday, members of the cycling community met along the Durban Beachfront (off Snell Parade) to participate in a memorial ride for Van Heerden, who was well known in the community which his son, South African rider, Deno van Heerden, is such an important part of.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Crowdfunding campaign launched for heroic Northdene pitbull’s vet bills
Our sister publication, the Queensburgh News, was there and posted this live Facebook video from the event.
https://www.facebook.com/QueensburghNews/videos/179477770031450/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDtOSV1nkHw3ZyWlIjsteW4xAsqgSU1BJi8eLyyLu-pzhove_igZz2R9xD_Xmb0r33ehkyi2mLpG_HesBhyYfSrHEoc5UGRiwrgG4ZHdSuzxMfMWyj7A7D_Tmt7uxfHUZl4YQL-RlpdKk4E8wjDhvc8OzI-Mod7Zqt4IRrfC0Htddcutt_P0wR-NfVoOl8rKM217KFeZoZV2gcSIvxis6E4uoyLEkE2wyag_D6WKqamyaYud1eQ_fb5kUtrBJ2UVo6qckiVcAnWZxbSd7lczq0jyj9IDHzvznQ2m-7T71t2nHgUtzz_ckYifc4OtRIfPLpt-PmWahARybS1JHadwhN8KDcBYEx1cP4&__tn__=-R
See the latest Queensburgh News tomorrow (11 February) to read a tribute to Van Heerden, or follow the Queensburgh News or Highway Mail facebook pages for more information on the story.
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