Cool cats, canines and Currency crew – it’s competition time!

It’s World Pet Day, which means we’re celebrating our cuddly critters – and yours – with a win from Woolies.
April 11, 2025
3 mins read

It’s World Pet Day so, even though the Currency’s team’s cats and dogs are completely overindulged 24/7, today is extra special.

Stats show that almost half of adult South Africans have a pet, but we know that, in particular, a huge number of our readers have furry friends they adore. We also think that at this juncture – between wildfire global madness and local political instability – they offer extra-important solace and love. Emotional support pets are where it’s at!

Carmen’s Sophie (left) sit-sleeps so he doesn’t miss out, while Hannah, though looking alert here, actually sleeps through everything, including the budget speech.
Sarah’s dog Luxie is a rescue from Woodrock Animal Rescue who’s allegedly an ‘old girl’ but who spends all her day hunting in the garden and jumping from high places. She’s proof that age is just a number!

Then, because we often work from home, the Currency team’s pets are very active parts of the squad. They sit in on interviews, have been known to interrupt a solid moment of writing with a bark, eternally try to snooze on the keyboard and, where Giuletta’s new baby chicks are concerned, have been the background to our team calls for the past few weeks. Their chirps are often far more insightful than anything we have to say.

Left: Lilly is a two-year-old rescue who finds Rob’s need for cuddling and affirmation very passé. She’d rather sleep on the Rose kids’ beds instead. Right: This is Ruby’s Pip, whose earsplitting yowls can be heard from Antarctica. She is a kibble snob but will gladly drink bathwater.
Shirley’s Loki, an eight-year-old rescue hound (another shout-out to Woodrock Animal Rescue), would sell you into slavery for a slice of cheese. He’s not always plotting mayhem.

In the spirit of celebrating these cool cats, canines (and, erm, chicks), we thought we’d intro you to the crowd. From Shirley’s sweet Loki (really) to Neli’s adorable Beaux and Bear, and Ruby’s puuurfect Pip, we have a petting zoo’s worth of absolute charmers in our fold.

Our friends at Woolies are also totally pet-mad (they even had a pet illustrator at their last Christmas showcase) and so when they heard we were planning on celebrating this, they got on board in a flash. In fact, we also received snaps of their PR team’s newest kitten members.

Neli’s Bear and Beaux, the dynamic chow chow duo, are eight weeks old and powered by treats! These fluffy bundles of mischief are always on the move – blink, and you might miss them! 
Tim’s Marelize has strong political opinions, but let’s face it, sometimes these days you need a break.

Get involved and win

Relatedly, we’d love you to mail us pics of your beloved creatures (we don’t mind what kind) along with a “Currency” caption to [email protected]. We’ll run some of them online and pick the cutest, with the best caption. And yes, we know it’s a completely subjective thing, but I was once the celebrity judge at a domestic cat competition held by a Sandton junior school, so I feel up to the task.

The competition runs until 5pm on Thursday April 17 2025; the winner will be announced after the Easter weekend.

The winner will receive a fabulous box of Woolies dog goodies – cats will be quite partial to some of the items too – and a Woolies voucher worth R1,000 to spend on the littlest family members!

As Jo’s chihuahuas will tell you – there is nothing, and we mean nothing, more exciting than a Woolies plush toy. The tiny Mexican gals inform us that an owl or Knysna lourie that squeaks is the direct way to a dog or cat’s heart. You heard it here first!

Betty, Luci, Peggy, Aida and Frida are chihuahua rescues who have found their rightful place in the lap of luxury – aka, Jo’s bed!
Wrigley: A six-year-old, attention-loving co-dependent with the face and attitude of a puppy, who struts the streets like he owns them. Proudly owned by his equally co-dependent human, Vernon.

Top image: Giulietta’s Indie, a feral kittie who likes velvet chairs, hunting only the baby rats, and playing chasey-chase. She offers less than no support to her owner, who is always tempted to buy an unloved small cap.

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Sarah Buitendach

With a sharp eye for design, Sarah has an unparalleled sense of shifting cultural, artistic and lifestyle sensibilities. As the former editor of Wanted magazine, founding editor of the Sunday Times Home Weekly, and many years in magazines, she is the heartbeat of Currency’s pleasure arm.

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