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Oscar at Holy Cross Education Center, Mtata -
Oscar at the Leaning Tower of Pisa -
No ordinary pooch -
Oscar and Joanne snuggle up : Oscar Lefson’s true pedigree lies in the contribution he has made to helping raise international awareness about the plight of his canine kin. -
Nap time : The oversized woven red chair is just perfect for afternoon naps. -
Idle time : Oscar takes time out from his hectic schedule to watch the squirrels. -
Oscar's kitchen : The open-plan kitchen area features colour accents from the dog-themed art, Joanne’s favourite Gandhi quote, and a wooden sculpture of that other famous adventurer/dog owner, Tintin. -
He may be a stud, but he likes pink. : A pink Smeg fridge, witty Frank van Reenen sculptures and photos of Oscar’s travels bring a whimsical element to the otherwise earthy tones and textures of the house.
PHOTOS Micky Hoyle PRODUCTION Sumien Brink WORDS Sam Woulidge
Oscar Lefson was an extraordinary hound who travelled the globe to highlight the plight of homeless dogs, and VISI is heartbroken to hear of his untimely death. We first met him in VISI 61, when Sam Woulidge visited him at his Tamboerskloof home. Here is what she wrote.
He has a lot of charm, this boy, and he is really quite attractive, despite his bushy eyebrows and short legs. In fact, that’s probably part of his appeal. Though Oscar is devoted to Joanne Lefson, the woman he shares his life with, he is not averse to a bit of flirtation, which is how it came to be that, at our first meeting, he lay on his back and insisted I rub his tummy, which I happily did.
I think he liked it, if his body language was anything to go by, but then he paid me no more attention. I admit I felt a bit hurt; I always lose out to the blondes. But on this day it was not only the blonde Ms Lefson who held Oscar’s attention; he couldn’t take his eyes off the chestnut squirrels. He barely looked at me for long enough to answer my questions but, when he did, he was, as always, a dapper little gentleman.
Oscar is the most-travelled hound in the world. He prefers private planes and business-class seats but copes well enough in coach. During his World Woof Tour, which started in 2009 and involved visiting hundreds of animal shelters in 31 countries during a nine-month period, he was accompanied by Joanne, who he credits as being his saviour. Together, the slightly anxious but fiercely loyal blonde and the rock star animal activist, (Bone-Oh?) have been raising awareness of animal adoption.
The travelling can be exhausting, and Oscar tries to keep fit and healthy by taking regular exercise and following a free-range chicken and rice diet. But he’s not too fussy and, on the road, in the air, or at sea, he’ll take what he can get. There’s no ego here, only a commitment to helping as many of his kind as he can. Oscar has been abandoned, spent time in a shelter and narrowly escaped death, so will do whatever it takes to make the world sit up and take notice of the plight of abandoned animals.
I asked him where he’s happiest? On a plane, in a hotel, or in the beautiful slave lodge conversion in Tamboerskloof? In gruff tones, Oscar reveals that home is where Joanne is; that he is happiest when he’s with her, no matter where in the world they are.
They have a special relationship, these two. They were married in Las Vegas by an Elvis impersonator, which is slightly crazy, I guess, but theirs is a relationship of equals.
Oscar is not a needy dog and no lapdog either. He follows Joanne from room to room, but I get the impression he does this more for her sake than his. To protect her; to reassure her. They have an abiding love and commitment towards one another and although they aren’t annoyingly demonstrative, Joanne ensures he’s neatly groomed, allows him access to her bed and turns a blind eye to his squirrel obsession.
“Not bad for a mixed-bag mutt,” I muttered when I saw his lavish accommodation, the designer chairs, the dog-inspired artwork. Oscar’s eyebrows shot up, his ears twitched.
“I’m annoyed when people differentiate between dogs like me and those with pedigrees. I most certainly have a pedigree. We had the DNA testing done in Fort Lauderdale and it proved I’m a minor mix between a Pembroke Welsh corgi, a German shepherd, an English springer spaniel and a basset hound. So there. How is that any less than a lazy Labrador, or a pernickety poodle?” he eyeballed me.
“But what if you were to find these purebred dogs in an animal shelter?” I challenged him.
“That would make all the difference; the fear and loneliness unite us all.”
With that, he got up from the new carpet purchased for his pleasure and padded up the stairs to sit in his window and watch the squirrels in the tree – a dog glad to be home.
VISI’s heartfelt condolences to all of Oscar’s family and friends, after Oscar died in a car accident on Friday 11 January. A memorial service will be held on Friday 25 January at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. More details on his Facebook page.
