Dogs love the Botanical Gardens

World Animal Day on 4 October ushers in the beginning of International Animal Week which ends on 10 October.

The Johannesburg Botanical Gardens is often hailed as the best dog walk in the city so NMT went to the canine-friendly park to find out why people love taking their four-legged friends to the green space.

Uta Malczak and son Marcus don’t live in the area but they both agree that travelling with their dogs to the Botanical Gardens is well worth it.

“We live in Roodeport but the dogs love coming here and it is such a special place to bring them that we still come as often as we can,” she said referring to her Jack Russell terriers, Milo and Mouse, who were excitedly running across the open expanse of the dog walk area.

Ilker Sarikaya who visits the park with two four-legged dogs and one three-legged pooch comes to the Botanic Gardens at least five times a week.

“There is a hell of a crowd here on the weekends, especially with the weather warming up. My dogs really love the water,” he said as Bella ran out of the pond and shook herself dry at his feet.

“They get to play with other dogs and if I come out and there are not many other dogs I might even return in the later so that they get time to socialise.”

“We are blessed to have this green belt in the middle of a major city, I appreciate and walk here with my dogs every day,” said Lynn Maree, owner of Burton and Thengiwe.

“They really love running across the grass and chasing birds. The magic to living in northern Johannesburg is that one is so close to nature. Coming here is great for me too because I get my daily workout in as well as the dogs.”