When the world met Jabu and Patti
Often a story comes along that truly makes a difference in the lives of the people it features. The story of Jabu Dume and his dog Patti, is one such.
THE story we published for two weeks about a car guard who lives on the beach with his dog Patti has literally gone viral. Well in the Durban North area that is. Not only has that, which was the original one written by journalist Shiraz Habbib, gone viral but so has the follow-up stories on Jabu Dume and his beloved dog Patti.
Shiraz’s initial story spoke of the unlikely friendship that had blossomed between Jabu and the dog.
Then we went on to report how the Durban North community had rallied behind Jabu and his dog.
The Northglen News has been inundated with calls from residents who wanted to help Jabu and his dog Patti. In the Northglen News dated 8 August Shiraz Habbib wrote: “Jabu has lived on the street since he was 16, washing cars and surviving off the scraps he found in trash cans or from people giving him food was all he knew.”
Habbib quoted Dume as saying: “Friends are transitional, nomadic almost, they come and go according to their needs. Men without a spot to call home don’t stay in one place for a long time. When I moved to Virginia Beach, my friend Siya was given two puppies to look after. He couldn’t take care of both of them anymore so I started looking after Patti.
“We’ve been inseparable ever since. I know I have the face of a criminal but I don’t have the heart of the one and I think Patti sees that, she doesn’t judge me. When I wake up in the morning and take a walk on the beach, Patti will often follow my scent and walk by my side. She makes me feel safe.”
It was heartwarming to see how it was a “good news” story rather than a bad one that got toungues wagging on this one. No doubt Patti’s tail is also wagging with all the dog food that has been donated by Durban North residents.
