WILD & WONDERFUL

Having an exotic pet is fun and interesting, but caring for them is a big responsibility that should not be taken lightly

- MAXINE PETERS

IT'S an image guaranteed to make the most cynical soul go "aaah" - a tiny creature fast asleep on the back of a dog about 10 times its size. And when these two aren't snoozing, they can be found outside exploring the garden, chasing each other around the lawn, rolling on the grass and tucking into treats.

Welcome to the world of Phoenix, a 10-week-old fennec fox, and Dobby the dog, cherished pets of Cheyenne Dombrock-Smith (27) of Northriding, Johannesburg.

Dusty the cat lives here too, but she's typically an aloof feline and hasn't been as accepting as Dobby of the newcomer to the household.

"Phoenix is still a bit afraid of the cat, says Cheyenne, who's a 3D animator and also has an outdoor adventure business in the Rustenburg area.

She's always wanted to own an exotic pet and little Phoenix has been a delight. "He sleeps in the house and I have playtime with him in the morning and evenings. He has what I call 'baby zoomies' - bursts of energy when he dashes around like crazy.

"He finds bugs in the garden and eats them. He also plays fetch with a ball and goes on a leash when we go for walks.

Phoenix is native to the deserts of North Africa and while he won't grow much longer than the length of a ruler and is hardly likely to be a danger to society, he does fall under the same category of animal that's dominated the news lately.

He's an exotic creature and the spotlight has been cast on exotics after all the recent tiger drama.

First Sheba escaped from her enclosure on a smallholding south of Joburg, then another tiger was seen ambling around an office complex in Edenvale, Gauteng.

Both cats were privately owned. Sheba was shot and killed by her owner, Rassie Erasmus, after going on the rampage for several days. The second tiger was reportedly darted and taken to a sanctuary.