‘They were family’: 2 dogs perish in house fire

Update

KNYSNA NEWS - Every phone call asked the same desperate question: Have you found the dogs?

When Don Tait and his wife, Nikki, learnt that their home, Island Villa Guest House, was on fire on Saturday morning, 17 October, their first thoughts were not about their possessions or the building going up in flames.

They were about Ben and Gracie, their beloved nine-year-old Yorkshire terriers, who were still inside.

By the time the Taits reached Knysna, more than an hour after receiving the first call, videos some neighbours and friends had sent revealed the fire's devastating scale. Their home had been destroyed completely.

But amid the shock and uncertainty, the family held on to hope that Ben and Gracie had escaped. "We never expected it to be as bad as it was," says Don.

The family had left Knysna at 06:15 on Saturday to support their 19-year-old son, Jack, who was running the Fancourt half-marathon. Their younger son, Evan, who is almost 14, had stayed behind to go to the Harkerville market with some friends.

The Taits had just sat down for a drink after Jack finished the race when a neighbour called them to tell them their home was on fire. They immediately asked their neighbours to search for their dogs. The downstairs sliding door leading to the deck was usually left open so the dogs could access the garden, but when the family was out, Ben and Gracie would normally sleep upstairs on the couple's bed.

As the heavy traffic delayed their journey back to Knysna, the family anxiously awaited any news.

"We arrived and hoped the dogs had run out of the house. We asked the community to look around the Island for them," Don said.

Sadly, both dogs perished in the fire. Gracie was found on Saturday and Ben only on Tuesday.

'They were not just dogs'

For the Tait family, the loss of Ben and Gracie has been the hardest part of an already devastating experience.

The brother-and-sister pair had been constant companions for nine years, sharing beds with the family and joining them on walks around the Island. They also enjoyed walks with the family's housekeeper, Ella.

"Everyone who knew us, knew how much we loved our dogs. They were not just dogs, but family members to us," says Don.

The family even had a running joke that Nikki had more photographs of Ben and Gracie on her phone than of her two boys.

The loss has left a painful void in a family now trying to come to terms with losing almost everything they owned.

"The psychological effect of losing everything besides the clothes on our backs has been very difficult to come to terms with," Don says. "By far the most difficult has been the loss of Ben and Gracie."

The family is close-knit, but each member is processing the tragedy differently. To help their sons cope, the couple is arranging trauma counselling.

For Evan, there is also the challenge of preparing for his Grade 7 exams, which begin in three weeks.

"Right now, it is about ensuring that we support one another through this process each day and create an environment of support for Evan," says Don.

A community steps in

While the family grapples with the loss, the response from Knysna residents, friends and relatives has provided a much-needed source of comfort.

Clothes have been donated, and mothers from Oakhill School have organised a food chain, and deliver meals to the family each day.

Friends and neighbours have remained close, offering practical help and emotional support when it is needed most.

Don is particularly grateful to those who rushed to Island Villa to try and rescue Ben and Gracie, as well as the Knysna firefighters who went above and beyond in the search for the dogs.

"The support from everyone has been overwhelming. We are so incredibly grateful for all the love shown to us," he says.

The family was fortunate that their friends and neighbours managed to move their cars, camper and boats out of the driveway before the fire destroyed the property.

Island Villa Guest House had been the family's full-time home for the past year. They had planned to operate it as a full-time guest house from next year.

Now, the immediate challenge is finding accommodation in Knysna for the December holiday period. With the property completely destroyed, decisions about its future will have to wait.

A formal investigation into the cause of the fire was conducted last week, and the family is awaiting the fire specialist's report.

Taking it one day at a time

For now, the Taits are not making plans for rebuilding or restoration. Their priority is to support one another and begin navigating life after a loss that extends far beyond bricks and mortar.

The outpouring of kindness has reminded them that they are not facing the difficult days ahead alone.

"We would like to thank the team from the Knysna Fire Brigade, who were amazing on Saturday," says Don.

"To our friends, family and the greater community, thank you to everyone who has messaged, dropped off gifts, cried with us and supported us. We are so very grateful."

Gracie, Ben’s sister.