Dog-shaped hot air balloon takes to the skies for the Pedigree Dog Adoption Tour

The world’s largest canine comes to Cape Town

Oscar Maximus, the 40-meter-tall, 260-kg, propane gas powered dog-shaped hot air balloon is set to sail over Cape Town on 20 April 2012; raising dog adoption awareness sky high as part of the Pedigree Dog Adoption Tour. Starting in Pretoria and travelling to eight South African cities, the mammoth canine float is a larger than life campaign aimed at encouraging people to first consider adopting a dog before purchasing a furry friend; the campaign also encourages dog owners to sterilize their pets.

“We don’t need more dogs,” says the real Oscar’s owner Joanne Lefson, “We need more loving homes for the ones that are already here and dying for a second chance”. 

The Cape Town Grand Parade will be the place of lift off for the big mutt, and people of all ages are encouraged to head down to the launch pad to support and save the lives of man’s best friend.

However, the real star of the show is not the massive dog-shaped hot air balloon, but rather the living, breathing part corgi, part Alsatian cocker who was adopted in 2004 from the Cape of Good Hope SPCA - a day before being put down. Oscar has since become an ambassador for all dogs who face similar circumstances; having become a household name in 2009 when he and Lefson travelled over 200, 000 km across 35 countries to visit over 20, 000 shelter dogs to highlight the need for dog adoption worldwide.

Good Hope FM has partnered with the Cape Town pooch-centric event, so there’s sure to be lots of entertainment for the whole family at the Grand Parade.

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