I spent most of my childhood living with my grandparents in the township of Kwamashu in the heart of Durban. I smile when I think back to those times.

My grandfather had a cute little dog named Molly. She was a gift from his former employers, who emigrated to Australia in the 1990s. They believed it was best to leave their beloved pet in the care of someone who had developed a close bond with her.

I remember the mixed emotions when Mkhulu, which means grandfather in isiZulu, came back with the dog. My granny was frustrated. This was an additional child in the family, she said.

My older sister and I were excited to see this furry friend, but we were also scared to touch her.

We had never had a dog in the family. After a while, everyone fell in love with Molly. She played an important role in our family.

We learned the dog’s feeding schedule and bath times, and who is in charge of taking her for a walk. I believe my grandfather gave these responsibilities to my big sister to teach her responsibility.

If we were playing with friends nearby, as soon as the sun went down, we had to remind each other that the dog needed to eat, or had to be inside the shelter if it was drizzling.

As much as we knew our grandfather loved us, we were scared of him. He had a loud voice and we did not want to get on his wrong side. Molly allowed us to see a softer and more caring side of him, a side we loved seeing every day.

Even when people did not see eye to eye in the house, Molly was a bridge to conversation.

“Have you fed the dog?” And “Molly is loud today!” were some of the ice-breakers that forced people to talk to each other.

Speaking to my older sister about this, she mentioned how Molly helped to create generational bonds in our home. We would be bathing the dog outside, and our grandfather would share stories with us. We grew fonder of him and fonder of Molly. We shared playful moments and made beautiful memories.

Molly was a pivotal part of our family. When my grandfather passed away, it was a very sad moment for us all. We had lost a pillar of the household. More and more, we worried about Molly.

“Please feed the dog, or my husband will turn in his grave,” my granny would say. We knew how much Molly meant to our grandfather. Even in his absence, we wanted to make sure Molly didn’t feel the gap. And so we over and above in memory of our grandfather.

We learned so much from our precious furry friend, Molly. It’s amazing how much a dog can teach you, and how vital they can be for our mental health.

My kids are 7 and 5 years old. They have been asking for a dog or a rabbit. We have been hesitant due to our living situation.

We stay in a complex with a beautiful yard, but we’re unsure if the kids are mature enough to care for a pet.

But just as Mkhulu trusted us, when the time is right, I believe this could be a valuable opportunity for them to learn responsibility.