It's puppy love – and thereby hangs a tail

[caption id="attachment_37703" align="alignright" width="300"] JUST PERFECT: Chandré Barnard and Claire Visser look forward to their wedding day in March next year. Inset: Claire’s chihuahua Gabbi delivered the message[/caption]

BRYMORE couple Claire Visser, 29, and her fiancé Chandré Barnard, 25, got engaged two months ago in real "puppy love" style.

Barnard, who is a municipal civil engineer, and Visser, lab supervisor at Venco fruit processors, have been dating about five years.

"We met at a braai at a friend's house. At first we were just friends but we quickly took a major liking to one another," Visser shared.

On the eve of his proposal, her then boyfriend suggested they go for an early walk on the beach the next morning. So, on March 16, that was exactly what they did.

"Little did I know he had planned the proposal. He asked his sister to assist and make it extra special. His sister fetched the ring, and my little chihuahua, Gabbi, from our place, while we were on our way to the beach.

"After a long walk he led me to a quiet grass patch along the beachfront. There was his sister, waiting with my little Gabbi and a picnic blanket with champagne, cut fruit, chocolates and a bunch of roses.

"Around the [puppy's] neck was a big red heart with "will you marry me?" written on it, and clipped to her collar was the ring."

Claire's dogs are dear to her and Chandré incorporating one of them on such a special occasion, made it that much more sentimental, she said. "I couldn't stop the tears when he removed the ring, went down on one knee and asked me to be his wife."

Chandré said: "She is the perfect one for me! "

With a laid-back vintage garden theme in mind, the two plan to tie the knot on March 14 next year. - CLAIRE VISSER and CHANDRÉ BARNARD