There is nothing that makes a dog happier than the promise of miles of open space ahead of them, snaking, tree-lined pathways, and perhaps a dam or two to splash through. All of this preferably leash-free. For our two dogs, every car journey is filled with promise, unbridled excitement and the taste of adventure.
“One way to get the most out of life, is to look upon it as an adventure” William Feather
Johannesburg is not particularly dog-friendly, well not if you compare it to most cities in Europe and the USA. We’re always looking for places where we can take Paddington and Darcy to let off some steam, which is why I got so excited when I read an article about James Delaney and his dog Pablo.
James and Pablo live close to an area known as “The Wilds”, near Killarney and Houghton. Despite “The Wilds” reputation for having become dangerous over the years, James and Pablo, in search of new playgrounds, ventured into the overgrown gardens and emerged unscathed.
Delighted by the potential they saw in a forgotten place needing some love and attention, they took things a step further and kicked off an initiative to make the park accessible, safe and usable once again. Volunteers came on board and helped to clear things up – a significant project – over the past two years. James is an accomplished artist and he immediately got to work installing beautiful stainless steel sculptures of birds and animals. As the teams toiled, the magnificent historic park with its stone-cut paths and panoramic city views gradually came back to life.
