Pillion the dog's bollocks for biking Yorkie Bailey

12 January 2017 - 09:40 By SUTHENTIRA GOVENDER
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Image: Gallo Images/iStockphoto

Bailey the Yorkshire terrier leads a charmed life. He dresses to the nines, dines on the finest cuisine and hits the road on a bike whenever the fancy takes him.

Five months ago Bailey's future was uncertain, but today the rescue dog is an internet celebrity and the apple of Bloemfontein businessman Lucky Esterhuizen's eye.

Johannesburg resident Izette Soine was on holiday in George recently when she managed to capture Bailey and Esterhuizen cruising the streets.

The video of a goggle-wearing Bailey riding on the back of Esterhuizen's BMW bike in his modified cooler bag has thrilled social media users and received about 260,000 views so far.

Soine said she had spotted Bailey a few times in Knysna.

"We were on our way home to Kempton Park when we spotted them again in George.

"Ag, it was cutest thing. Those little goggles were adorable."

Soine said she did not expect the video to go viral.

"I've been getting messages from all over the world. The video has been shared over 10,000 times.

"There are obviously lots of people who love cute dogs as much as I do," Soine said.

A proud Esterhuizen said Soine had captured him and his biker dog on their first holiday together.

"Bailey goes everywhere with me. He comes to work with me, the local pub and on long drives."

Esterhuizen, 58, decided to foster Bailey after a friend convinced him that he was a "top dog".

"My friend has a farm where she keeps rescue dogs. I was reluctant to take Bailey because I thought having a dog would restrict me.

"But Bailey was born to be a biker. He loves it. I got a cooler bag and reinforced it with tubing so that he is secure behind me.

"There's a pillow and blanket in the cooler bag for his comfort. I'm very careful when I ride, because I have precious cargo on board," Esterhuizen said.

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