Mzansi's hilarious reaction: the comma catastrophe behind Aussie dog Poe's name

Language is a funny thing, isn’t it? It has the power to connect us, divide us, and sometimes, give us a reason to laugh until our sides hurt.

There are a few things that can summon South Africans faster than the smell of a braai, my fellow South Africans, or a word that means something else in isiZulu, Afrikaans, English and pure chaos all at once

That said, a video of a cute dog has gone viral after its Australian owner misspelt its name, turning it into a derogatory Afrikaans word. 

The dog named Poe was referred to as "Po*s", which left Mzansi in stitches. The adorable Border Collie has now unwittingly become a viral sensation among South Africans.

Jennifer Martin, who owns Wildhunde, an Australian company that makes high-quality, trainer-designed dog toys and gear, is at the heart of the humour.

Martin started the business in 2018 to offer durable, handmade products for dog lovers. However, a simple video of her beloved Poe, exhausted after a fun day at a dog lovers’ festival, got a different reaction on social media. 

What Martin didn’t realise was that leaving out an apostrophe while writing Poe’s name would spark a tsunami of laughter.

The comment section was comedy gold. Thousands of South Africans flooded her post, humorously pointing out the unintended meaning of her dog’s name.

“I beg your finest pardon???” became the unofficial national response.

“You summoned a whole nation,” wrote @Cornelia🇿🇦📚, laughing that Poe(s) is now “our dog too.”

“The South Africans assembled like the Avengers,” added @Anel Martin 🇿🇦.

“Please remember your apostrophes,” begged @Nico De Sousa, sounding like a traumatised English teacher.

“He’s our national dog now,” declared @made with love.

And perhaps the most South African fear ever voiced: “My biggest fear of going overseas is dogs not understanding ‘voetsek’,” joked @Sachz_81.

To her credit, Martin handled the situation with grace and humour. In a follow-up video, she laughed along, acknowledging that she had received thousands of comments, most helpfully explaining what the word means, others offering to register Poe at Home Affairs.

“It’s very funny and has not resulted in any dog toy sales, but at least Poe has fans,” Martin joked in a follow-up video.

One commenter even suggested that Martin expand her business to South Africa, saying, “You already have the following! Just match the branding to the vibe, and you’ll make a killing here!”

That’s the thing about our humour, it’s loud, layered, self-aware and oddly inclusive. No matter your race, language or postcode, we all understood the assignment. The joke wasn’t at her. It was with her.

Dog naming has long been our unofficial comedy genre. From Blackie, Whitey and Danger, to Rex, Pepsi, Batista and John Cena, our dogs have always carried stories, sometimes questionable, often hilarious.

Beyond the laughs, this story is a reminder of the universal themes that connect us all: love for our pets, the joy of light-hearted humour, and the power of cultural exchange. It’s no secret that the world can feel heavy at times, but stories like this one remind us to laugh, to connect, and to find joy in the little things, even if it’s just a dog’s name.

And for South Africans, it’s a moment of national pride. Poe may live in Australia, but he now belongs to Mzansi in spirit.

As one commenter hilariously put it: “Since Poe belongs to us now, don’t EVER let him get this tired again. We’re watching you.”