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Highway SPCA urges pet owners to vaccinate against rabies after tragic incident

The Kloof and Highway SPCA and a family mourns the loss of a dog after it tested positive for rabies.

THE Kloof and Highway SPCA is urging dog owners to vaccinate their pets against rabies following the death of a family dog, Lulu, who tested positive for the disease. The organisation shared the story on its Facebook page, emphasising the importance of vaccination and encouraging owners to make use of their clinics.

Also read: Kloof SPCA rescues dog with head stuck in tyre rim

Kloof and Highway SPCA manager, Barbara Patrick, explained that Lulu was humanely euthanised after displaying symptoms of rabies and requiring testing.

“Lulu was brought to our clinic on January 8, 2025, for sterilisation. Our field officer, Sipho Mkhize, fetched Lulu, and she was scheduled to return home the next day after recovery. Unfortunately, Lulu had never been vaccinated, so this was also planned during her visit,” said Patrick.

On January 9, Lulu’s sterilisation went well, and she was returned home to recover. However, two days later, on January 11, the SPCA’s after-hours emergency line received distressing calls from Lulu’s owner, reporting that she was unwell. Field officer Philani Nzama collected Lulu and observed severe neurological symptoms, which raised suspicions of rabies.

“Inspector Kerrie Andrews reviewed the video taken by Philani and contacted Lulu’s owner, advising her to seek immediate rabies treatment for herself and her son as a precaution. Inspector Andrews also contacted me, and after reviewing the situation, the devastating decision was made to humanely euthanise Lulu to confirm the diagnosis,” Patrick said.

Patrick explained that positive rabies testing requires the animal to be euthanised. Tragically, Lulu’s test results came back positive. “Lulu would have suffered a painful death and posed a serious risk of spreading rabies to people and animals she came into contact with,” she said.

Also read: Abandoned mother dog and four puppies safe at SPCA

The SPCA reported that all staff and individuals who had contact with Lulu would require post-exposure rabies treatment. “This decision, while necessary, was deeply traumatic for our dedicated team, who love and care for all animals. It was equally devastating for Lulu’s family, who struggled to accept that she could have rabies,” Patrick added.

The SPCA stressed that Lulu’s tragic case highlights the critical importance of vaccinating pets against rabies. “Had Lulu been vaccinated, this outcome could have been avoided,” Patrick said.

The State Veterinary Services will now contact Lulu’s family and investigate the area for any additional cases of rabies to prevent further spread.

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Nonhlanhla Hlatshwayo

As a journalist at the Highway Mail, I contribute engaging content to both our weekly newspaper and website, collaborating with the editorial team to deliver community-focused stories that resonate with the Upper Highway area. With two years of experience under my belt, I've refined my expertise in researching and crafting compelling online and print articles, as well as producing high-quality video content for our website. I'm proud to be part of a trusted community publication that shares the stories that matter most to our readers.

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