‘Tail’ with a happy ending

“I CAN never than Meg enough for what she has done for me and my family.”

These are the words of a Durban North man who has been reunited with his missing dog Sparks. Two weeks ago  through an advert on the Northglen News Howard Dlulisa appealed to the community to help him find his missing Sparks.

Telling the tale of how he lost him Dlalisa said, “On Friday 14 September we came home around 1am. I am assuming that’s when he ran out the gate. It was only when I woke up the next day that I realised that he was no where to be seen. I looked everywhere, even at the SPCA but Sparks was no where to be seen.” 

But Dlulisa was not willing to give up that easily.

“I then decided to put out an advert in the paper. I was willing to give anyone who would help me find Sparks a reward of R5000. I’ve had Sparks since he was a puppy. He has become a part of our family so losing him was very painful,” he went on. 

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Luckily for him the Northglen News landed on the right hands. Two days after the paper was published Dlulisa received a call from a Megan Gaul, who he says became his knight in shining armour.

“On Saturday the 14 September my two staff arrived at my house for work (our meeting point) with a dog in tow. The guys said that the dog was very close to a busy road when they found him and he just started following them all the way to my place. I love animals and so I was at my wits end to find the owner,” said Gaul. 

Sadly time was not on Gaul side as she was rushing to get to work.

“I asked my fiancé to drop the dog off at the Ashburne vet for safe keeping in the meantime and I would drive around the area after work to try and find the owner of the dog. Later that day after work I drove up and down the road near to where the guys had found the dog. I rung intercoms and spoke to a few people who said that they could not recall a dog like that around the area. I was hoping the owner would post on social media – I posted on the Durban north community and neighbours page a description of the canine and where it has been found, still no luck,” she added. 

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Seeing the advert on the Northglen News was relief for Gaul.

“I Jumped from my desk, grabbed my keys and took off to the SPCA. I called the owner when I arrived and explained the situation. I was so on edge just thinking that there was a possibility we may be too late. I requested that they allow me into kennels to look for the dog. I cannot explain to you how I was feeling at that point. I was hysterical. My agony was prolonged – we walked up and down the rows of strays desperate to be the one you are looking for. Eventually – in the last row – right at the back – there he was! Elation,” said Gaul.

Honouring his promise Dlulisa offered Gaul the R5000 reward. To his surprise the generous lady who helped him find his missing family member refused to take the money.

“At that point I am not sure what came over me but I told him that I did not want his money I just wanted him to have his dog. The truth is – when I would think of that stray we found – I never thought of money only how wonderful it would be to have him reunited with his owner,” she said. 

Both Gaul and Dlulisa agreed that this experience has taught them life lessons.

“If there is a lesson we have learned, it is one I was taught by my parents many years ago – don’t ever give up. The owner never gave up looking for his dog – and I never gave up looking for the owner,” said Gaul. 

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