Sweet ending for Chocolate’s ordeal
If man’s best friend could talk, one particular dog would probably say thank you to a group of people who stopped at nothing to save her life.
A community’s efforts to retrieve a Sharpei stuck in a storm water drain in Bez Valley resulted in the poor creature finally being freed.
ln June, the Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) was contacted by a Bez Valley resident who asked for assistance with an injured dog which had been abandoned in the suburb.
Inspector Armand Jackson visited the area and found the limping, scared and emaciated Sharpei.
When he approached her, she went and hid in a storm water drain that eventually feeds into Bruma Lake.
Chocolate, the name affectionately given to her by AACL staff, crawled in deeply enough to make it impossible for rescuers to reach her.
Numerous unsuccessful rescue attempts were launched to try retrieve Chocolate. Several options were considered, ranging from chemical immobilisation to chasing her out of the drain with smoke. Concern for her injuries and general condition grew. Mr Peter Uys, from the Malvern Fire Station, was approached for assistance in attempting to flush her out by pumping water into the drain.
On August 8, fire brigade members met with the inspectors on-site.
Three attempts to flush Chocolate out failed. Each time, Chocolate would stand up and brace herself firmly against the concrete pipe while the water ran beneath her.
On August 13, inspectors returned, determined to catch her.
They used radio controlled cars in the drain to try scare her out. However, the cars lost signal and stopped before they could get close enough. Small-built Bez Valley resident, Mr Zunaid Bharoochie, offered to crawl in and chase her with a radio controlled car. The car, however, could not get past all the stones and debris in the pipe.
Another resident, Mr Donovan Brady, offered to crawl through the narrow pipe. He crawled in and by banging on the drain sidewalls with a pipe, managed to keep Chocolate moving ahead of him. However, with about four metres to go, Chocolate refused to move any further. Mr Brady could not proceed further due to all the debris blocking the pipe.
AACL’s lnspector, Philamon Maisela, decided to attempt using a catchpole with a noose to get Chocolate out.
He tried – and succeeded. He was able to secure the rope to Chocolate and pulled the petrified dog to safety.
On examination, Chocolate has suffered several bite wounds and has a shoulder injury.
AACL members said she is severely traumatised and scared. Chocolate will spend the next couple of weeks at the league’s veterinary hospital, where she will get all the necessary medical treatment and attention she requires.
The AACL’s resident animal behaviourist will also work with Chocolate in an effort to increase her confidence, with the eventual hope of settling Chocolate in a loving home.
