Meet Digit, one of Port Elizabeth journalist and animal lover Janine Lee’s four fur babies.
Digit has formed a special relationship with his favourite toy, Mr Chicken, so much so that the two have become inseparable, she says.
Their adventures are now a regular feature in the popular Canine Zone magazine, with their pictures having appeared in cartoon-strip form in four editions to date, including the one currently on the shelves. Lee, a senior television journalist at the SABC, says Digit was the runt of the litter when she fetched him as a pup in East London nine years ago.
“He is very gentle with toys and after a visit to the vet his human – me – allowed him to choose a toy off the rack.
“Digit chose Mr Chicken and so began a very special friendship. They have been besties for three years and Mr Chicken goes everywhere with Digit.
“Like good friends they get along most of the time, but occasionally they argue but always kiss and make up,” she chuckles.
The Adventures of Digit and Mr Chicken began to feature on social media and they were so popular it only made sense that Digit would go on to become a regular contributor to Canine Zone.“His adventures with Mr Chicken are now a regular feature in this magazine,” Lee says.
“Not bad for a little dog that nobody wanted”.
His human is very proud of him, she says.
“He remains a humble miniature long-haired sausage dog despite his fame.”
Digit shares his Walmer Heights home with two humans, two other sausage dogs named Riley and Maddy, and a German Shepherd named Gabby-Bear.
“The other sausage dogs know Mr Chicken belongs to Digit, but Gabby often tries to steal Mr Chicken, which elicits a growl from Digit,” Lee says.