Overwhelming support for Zini dog park fundraiser

Mtunzini’s Off the Leash dog park fundraiser saw over 130 supporters joining in the fun at Mtunzini Forest Lodge last Saturday.

The event included a potjie cook-off, live music and an epic UV neon afterparty with DJ Dr Ray dropping beats under a full UV lighting set-up sponsored by Unity Sound & Lighting.

Organiser Tamryn-Leigh van Loggerenberg said her motivation for the project came from her beloved black Labrador, Bailey.

“Bailey was born without hip sockets and he had surgery when he was two years old. He loves to eat and I have to walk him a lot to keep his weight down,” she said.

Van Loggerenberg said the idea for the dog park was sparked during a conversation on the Mtunzini WhatsApp group.

“There are a lot of condoms on the town’s sports field and you can’t even walk your dogs there.

“We live in a little flat, Zini has a lot of snakes, so we’re not too sure where to walk, so I said, ‘We need a dog park.’ And so we decided to do it for ourselves,” she said.

Determined to take matters into their own hands, a few residents stepped up. Local businessman Christo Bornman funded the park’s fence, while Mtunzini Residents’ Association chairperson Jeremy Nottingham and Van Loggerenberg got permission from the municipality.

After two years of community effort, the fence is up, but there is still work to do before the park’s grand opening.

Funds raised at the event will go towards the next phase of development, including safety upgrades, shade and seating for the park.

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