Jaxx the Red Siberian Husky and his human “the Fossil” are doing a pet-friendly road trip to raise funds for other huskies waiting to find homes.
South Africa (18 July 2023) – Following his epic 828 km ‘Walk4Huskies’ journey along the Western Cape coastline from Plettenberg Bay to Cape Town in August 2021, Jaxx, the famous Red Siberian Husky, is off on another fundraising trip.
This time, Jaxx and his adopted travel writer and motoring journalist partner ‘The Fossil’ (aka Desmond Langkilde) will be road-tripping a +2,000km route following the Johannesburg to Durban N3, along the KwaZulu-Natal N2 coastline, and back to Johannesburg from July 18th to 23rd, 2023.
Titled as ‘Ride4Huskies’, the travelogue aims to raise funds for Husky Rescue South Africa (HRSA) – a Husky Haven in Randburg, Johannesburg – and the Benoni branch of The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). The road trip also aims to raise awareness of pet-friendly places along the route.
Jaxx owes a lot to HRSA since being taken into their care as a young puppy. After being surrendered to HRSA by his original owner, Jaxx passed through several foster homes but always ended up back at HRSA for being “unmanageable” and a “compulsive run-away”.
“You can’t ‘teach’ a Siberian not to run any more than you can train a Retriever not to retrieve, or a Border Collie not to herd,” says Joanne Van Niekerk, the founder and manager of the haven.
“The odd husky will stay by its owners side but all huskies need to be homed to properties that are extremely safe for them as we get more huskies coming into the haven off the road than any other breed of dog”, Joanne concludes
Jaxx finally ended up in Cape Town at the age of three where his luck changed. HRSA posted a fostering plea on their Facebook page in 2019 and The Fossil’s wife, Beverley Langkilde, responded. Following a pet park meet-up and property size inspection of the foster couple’s home, Jaxx was entrusted to their care.
“Initially, Jaxx showed a complete lack of trust in humans and wasn’t at all friendly with our other dogs. But, after months of patience and TLC, coupled to twice-daily leashed walks along the beach, he eventually settled in. In 2020 we adopted Jaxx formally and he, in turn, adopted my husband as his pack leader during their month-long walk in 2021,” says Beverley.
At eight years old, Jaxx has passed middle age (Siberian huskies can live to 14 years or 78 years in human age equivalent) and although he still loves walking The Fossil on a leash, he has developed a preference for being chauffeured in a car. And for this fundraiser, he will be travelling in eco-conscious style. In a Jaguar iPace no less.
“While I’ll be researching the main story about EV (electric vehicle) long-distance travel and battery charging times at GridCars power stations along the route, Jaxx will be “Pawing It Forward” by posting daily blogs highlighting pet-friendy accommodation while asking readers to donate via links to the HRSA and SPCA websites”, says Desmond.
So if you see a Jaguar iPace bearing a Walk4Africa decal on its doors and a Siberian Husky peering out the rear side window from his doggy seat hammock, wave, hoot, or check out his blog at https://walk4africa.org/blog/. You may even catch Jaxx walking The Fossil along a KZN South Coast beach during the third week of July 2023.
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