Florida’s favourite dog, Kandas, dies
He also loved reading the weekly Roodepoort Record, and to ensure he received his copy, he chased after the delivery truck.
Monday, 25 May was a very sad day for the Quait family as they had to say goodbye to their four-legged friend, Kandas, the Giant Schnauzer. He quietly passed away lying in the warm morning sun in the entrance hall of their home.
Quinton Quait, Kandas’ human, shared the following message on Facebook, “Today is a very sad day; Kandas crossed over the Rainbow Bridge after a valiant fight against a horrible illness. He will be hugely missed by us the Quait family, and by many parkrunners, (both human and dogs) at Len Rutter Park.
“After he battled to complete a parkrun in February because of breathing difficulties, he was diagnosed with an horrible auto-immune disease. His white blood cells were destroying his red blood cells, resulting in not enough oxygen reaching his organs.
“The disease slowly reduced his abilities and personality, until he was a shadow of his former larger-than-life self. His runs became a walk around the block and then finally a stroll to the garden, panting and then lying down”.
George Taylor, a regular runner and volunteer at the Roodepoort parkrun said, “Kandas and Quinton recently both did their 200th parkrun. This despite a complaint from a points runner years ago that it was not right that Kandas with four legs was competing wrongly against her. We had to de-register him. But he continued to run with Quinton. We will miss him!”
Kandas, who was a Florida Blockwatch patroller as well as the Roodepoort parkrun’s mascot, was loved by many in Florida Park.
Quinton described him as “a great big black fluffy dog with an amazing personality and sense of smell”.
His journey with the Quait family started in 2011 when he was only one-and-a-half years old.
“He came to stay with us for the Christmas holidays. At that time he was the dog of the Sonop Men’s Residence at Tukkies. Our now son-in-law and two of his mates were his humans. Kandas was a Giant Schnauzer with a small bit of retriever mixed in, but he looked all Schnauzer,” Quinton explained.
He added that Dass (as he was affectionately known) was a mischievous pup and had disgraced himself too often at the residence, resulting in a ban being placed on dogs.
“Dass being naughtiest, and last to arrive was the first asked to leave. We were happy to give him a temporary home and eight-and-a-half years later he was still here and became our dog.
These have been wonderful, fulfilling years. A beautiful dog both inside and out, and with his loving character he got on with all humans, dogs (specially puppies and small breeds) including his two ‘stepsisters’, Hope and Ebony,” Quinton said.
With Kandas part of the family, there was never a dull moment, and the Quaits quickly realised they would have to do something to help him get rid of all his excess energy.
“He needed daily walks, so we started to walk round the neighbourhood and Len Rutter Park. When we heard about the Roodepoort parkrun, we jumped at the idea and registered.
Dass was also registered as ‘Kandas Schnauzer Quait’ aged 14 (two years x seven for dog years) at a later date.
On 19 October 2013, Dass and I started as running buds and on 9 August 2016 we completed our 100th parkrun.
On 14 December 2019 we did their 200th parkrun together,” Quinton fondly recalled.
Kandas was very popular at the parkrun, and Quinton said, “His best-known habit (loved and also hated) was his very loud barking before the race started. This was him shouting at the Run Director to ‘shut up – let’s run!’
Quinton said Kandas did not like cats at all, but loved other dogs, no matter the size or breed. He loved sniffing out moles in the park, rabbits and guinea fowl, an act that resulted in his mom, Helen, ending up in hospital with a broken collarbone, after dragging her along on a chase while they were running at Len Rutter Park.
He also loved reading the weekly Roodepoort Record, and to ensure he received his copy, he chased after the delivery truck.
Delivery motorcycles and runners in the street were not spared either.
Quinton said, “His favourite was ‘The Pink Lady’, a teacher from Florries”.
He concluded by saying, “We have been warmed by the wonderful outpouring of love and wishes to us as his humans, with gifts in memory of him.
He has left a huge hole in our lives and the lives of many who got to know and love him. He will always be remembered as our ‘gentle Giant Schnauzer’ – with a big heart and a big bark.
Thank you also to the vets at Florida Vet, Dr Darryn, and Dr Paul, who monitored him, and all the other staff. Your warmth will always be remembered.”
