Rescued drain-pup euthanised

SEVEN puppies, one of which was involved in a laborious rescue in Marrianridge, had to be euthanised after they were diagnosed with canine parvovirus.

On Sunday, 12 June at about 8pm, the Kloof and Highway SPCA’s inspector, Petros Simamane, and field officer, Eric Simamane, responded to an emergency call about a four-week-old puppy that had fallen down an uncovered drain at a residential property in Mariannridge.

The inspectors were unable to locate the puppy in the maze of drainpipes and did not have the necessary equipment, so opted to return in the morning. “Food and water was lowered down into the drain for the puppy until the help needed could arrive,” said Lisa Mörck, the PR and outreach officer for the Kloof and Highway SPCA.

On Monday afternoon, Rescuetech joined the inspectors at the resident’s property and digging commenced. Mörck noted that special machinery was brought in to break through the floor. “After more than six hours of continuous digging, at around 7.40pm on Monday evening the puppy was safely rescued. Inspector Simamane and six Rescuetech volunteers worked tirelessly for hours to rescue the puppy,” said Mörck.

The female dog was taken to the Kloof and Highway SPCA for sterilisation and the rescued puppy and its six siblings were signed over into the care of the NPO. The puppies were under observation in the SPCA’s clinic but their health quickly deteriorated and a canine parvoviris test was administered. “The results yielded were positive for the disease and the difficult decision was made to euthanise the puppies. This is a very grim and sad reminder to all how important and vital it is to vaccinate your animals. The female dog was not vaccinated and therefore the puppies’ immune systems were not strong enough to fight of the disease in the end.

“Inspector Petros Simamane and the Kloof and Highway SPCA are devastated as there were high hopes to re-home the puppies successfully,” said Mörck.

The female dog has been sterilised and is doing well. She was returned to her owners last week by inspector Petros Simanane.

The Kloof and Highway SPCA thanked Matthew Gibbon, Pieter Koekemoer, Mark Basson, Chris Williams and Daniel Mclaughlin from Rescuetech for their effort and time to rescue the puppy and to Victor Reim from A Reim and Sons for allowing it to use the company’s specialised machinery. We would also like to thank Andreas Matthios from Rescuetech for taking video footage and Durban and Coast SPCA for making their snake camera available for this rescue.

“Without the camera it would have been impossible to ascertain where to dig to get the puppy out. The Kloof and Highway SPCA’s inspectorate department is in dire need of such a camera as there are between 15 to 20 rescue operations undertaken each month in which kittens, puppies, farm animals and even wildlife – most recently a porcupine – have been rescued out of drains,” said Mörck.

We urge all home owners to ensure that all holes and drains on their premises are covered, especially when construction work is undertaken and to vaccinate and sterilise their pets.

The Kloof and Highway SPCA inspectorate can be contacted on 031 764 1212 from 8am to 4pm on Monday to Friday and 8am to noon on Saturdays to report any animal concerns or cruelty. For after-hour animal emergencies, please contact 073 335 9322.