Superdog takes to the sky

120420-Cape Town. Oscar, the world famous adopted mutt, and his owner, Joanne Lefson are once again championing the cause of dog adoption with the launch of their most original adventure to date, The Pedigree Adoption Tour. It is certainly one of the most unusual projects to ever land on South African soil; the national tour will see the infamous duo taking to the South African skyline in eight cities below the belly of the world's largest dog - a dog-shaped hot air balloon fondly called 'Oscar Maximus'. Picture Henk Kruger/Cape Argus/Weekend Argus

120420-Cape Town. Oscar, the world famous adopted mutt, and his owner, Joanne Lefson are once again championing the cause of dog adoption with the launch of their most original adventure to date, The Pedigree Adoption Tour. It is certainly one of the most unusual projects to ever land on South African soil; the national tour will see the infamous duo taking to the South African skyline in eight cities below the belly of the world's largest dog - a dog-shaped hot air balloon fondly called 'Oscar Maximus'. Picture Henk Kruger/Cape Argus/Weekend Argus

Published Apr 21, 2012

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There was nothing hang-dog about the festivities on the Grand Parade yesterday when a 260kg orange “dog” balloon dominated the sky to raise awareness of canine adoption.

 

Named Oscar Maximus, the hot-air balloon is on its Pedigree Adoption Tour, led by Joanne Lefson and her famous travelling buddy, adopted dog Oscar.

Rescued from the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in 2004, Oscar has been the star attraction of the adoption tour, which has already made stops at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria and Mary Fitzgerald Square in Joburg.

In the Mother City yesterday, the balloon took up passengers several times, as dogs up for adoption were brought to the Grand Parade by animal shelters to interact with the public.

Good Hope FM Breakfast was broadcast live from the Parade, filling the air with pop tunes amid the festivities.

Oscar, who trotted around among the crowd yesterday, joined forces with the balloon dog about a year ago to promote dog adoption, said Lefson.

Next on the agenda are stops in Kimberley, the Free State, Durban and East London. Their tour of SA ends on May 7 in Port Elizabeth, but they have plans to take the balloon overseas.

 

Speaking about little Oscar and his life on the road, Lefson said that he was fine if they were together.

Oscar is a mixed breed dog, including German shepherd, corgi and cocker spaniel.

To the question of “why Oscar?”, Lefson said it was “love at first lick”.

“He is most amazing and this was meant to be.

“Having a name like Oscar shows he is worthy of this role,” she said, urging people to go to their local shelter, and help change a life.

“Oscar should have never been here,” Lefson pointed out.

 

Statistics provided by the tour state that dog adoption rates in the country are at 10 percent.

Yet one pair of unsterilised dogs and their unsterilised offspring can produce 67 000 dogs in six years.

Lefson added that 25 percent of dogs in shelters were pure-bred.

“There are great dogs in shelters.”

If she could, she said, she would take the balloon around the world.

“The world’s the limit,” she said. - Saturday Argus

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