Love of animals is my great weakness. The raising, nursing and rehabilitation of animals is part of me……just like breathing.
My two Staffords were very special from the outset. They have always had to share our home with a wide variety of animal species. It varied from birds to bats, from snakes to likkewaans (similar to iguanas) and from warthogs to buck. They were loving and patient with each of the inhabitants. They just require a bit of time and love to become used to these animals. They have never let me down. With love and patience anything is possible.
The story of Mia and Warthog began shortly after Mia had given birth to a litter of 6 Stafford pups. Some hunters found a baby Warthog on the neighbour’s farm in Ellisras. She was already weak and thin, clearly an orphan. She urgently required care. Her body mass was a scrawny 630g. Day and night she was given milk formula at 20-minute intervals. Her weight began to improve quite rapidly. Her pink colour began to change to grey. To be honest, she was really ugly but still quite the cutest little animal in the world. We simply named her Vark (Hog). This was just as well as she had to frequently remember, in one way or another, that she was a Warthog and not a Stafford.
Mia was so busy being a mother to her pups at that stage that she initially did not concern herself with Vark. She was fine with the little Warthog’s presence but devoted all her attention to her pups. So Tyson, our male Stafford, took it upon himself to take care of Vark and to clean her. He loved this, but would be faced with a bit of a crisis when feeding time came around.
As the pups grew they began to become greater pals with Vark. Mia also began to take greater notice and gradually included Vark in her litter of pups. Vark would keep the pups busy while Mia gratefully took nice long naps. They played so nicely together, running, digging holes and even taking mud-baths……what is sight to see seven little mud pies fast asleep in the whelping basket. Vark was always the one in the middle as she felt the cold so easily. Using her hard round little nose, she would dig her way in between all the pups until she felt warm enough. They all seemed happy with this state of affairs. After each of Vark’s bottle-feeds, the pups also took their turns for a swig of milk from the bottle.
Unfortunately, the happy blissful days couldn’t remain forever – the pups had to go to their new homes. As they left, so the basket’s contents would become less and less until one day, only Vark remained. She looked so small and lost in the large basket.
At that stage Mia’s maternal instincts really kicked in and she became really protective. She would make sure that Vark was always firmly in her field of vision. When Vark was let outside on her own on the odd occasion. Mia would become very restless and I would soon need to let her out to keep a watchful eye over her ward. They would eat, sleep and play together. At bedtime they would sleep close together, as though joined by an invisible bond. Vark lapped up all this attention and flourished with the love that she was receiving from all. Everything that Mia did, Vark did as well. They even chased cats together…. the only difference being that Vark was not able to bark. Vark did not think that she was a dog – she was convinced that she was nothing less than a fully fledged Stafford. The possibility that she may be a Warthog never even occurred to her.
On weekends and vacations, all the living beings in our home would travel to our farm. We would all enjoy it immensely. Mia was usually the leader in all kinds of mischief. Vark would copy her diligently. Swimming in the river was Mia’s favourite game and Vark was quick to follow. What a sight to see Vark following Mia like a submarine!!!!!!! Warthogs are crazy about mud, not water!!!!!!! These carefree days also would not last forever. Vark is essentially a miniature bulldozer and my garden began to take on the appearance of a major disaster area. She needed space, and the suburban property had become too small. Needless to stay, we had to move Vark to the farm on a permanent basis.
The separation of “David and Jonathan” was heartbreaking. Mia missed Vark a lot and looked everywhere for her. With time though, both got used to their new lifestyles and life returned to normal. What a privilege and joy it was for us to have provided Vark with a home in our household!!!!!!
The return to normality did not last forever though. These days we are sharing our place with an orphaned Klipspringer that we are raising. Mia is also taking care of her (Daisy). Furthermore, Mia will soon have another basket-full of Stafford pups………the entire cycle is starting once again. All that has changed is the appearance of a few members of the cast and their names.
Beatrix Jonker
South Africa