How a dog became a legend

Everybody in Simon’s Town knows Just Nuisance, the only dog in the world that made it in the Royal Navy. The story of his life is part of Simon’s Town – there’s a statue of him on Jubliee Square – and there’s even a ‘Just Nuisance look-a-like Contest’.

Just Nuisance was born on the 1st of April 1937 in Rondebosch, but was sold as a pup to Benjamin Chaney. Benjamin moved to Simon’s Town to work for the United Service Institute. And because the USI was visited by the sailors of the Royal Navy – which is based in Simon’s Town – Just Nuisance made a lot of new friends. The sailors gave the dog loads of food and beer and therefore Just Nuisance started to like every single sailor – since they all look the same to him.

Just Nuisance started following all the sailors around, even went up to the boats. And that’s where he got his name. The dog’s favorite spot was on the deck of the HMS Neptune. Nobody could pass him, since The Great Dane grew into a massive dog. "You're just a nuisance, why do you have to lie here of all places?”, the sailors used to tell him. And that’s where the name came from.

The dog eventually even followed the sailors in the train to Cape Town. He became a well-known traveler on the train, everybody liked the dog, and he even knew where to get on and off. Only the train conductors didn’t like his presence. Eventually they wanted to put the dog down, which resulted in many angry letters and supporting letters to the navy. The Royal Navy decided to do something unusual: they enlisted Just Nuisance in the navy! This didn’t only make him the most famous dog in the world, but he also got a free pass to travel the train – as every volunteer got during the War.

Just Nuisance became the pride of the Royal Navy. He even marched in the parades – dressed up and everything! – but he never went to sea. He did go up in the sky, with a pilot off course, to search for submarines. But Just Nuisance was more like a moral support for the sailors during the War.

In 1944 Just Nuisance was discharged from the army. After a motor accident the dog was slowly paralyzing. On recommendation of a veterinary surgeon, they put Just Nuisance to sleep on his 7th birthday: 1st April 1944.