Big dig to rescue two-week-old puppy
The team had to listen out for the echoes of the little puppy’s cries to help them dig in the right direction
AFTER spending hours inside a hole, a cold, wet and thirsty puppy was finally rescued by the community after falling into a main drainpipe.
The brown, two-week-old pitbull fell into the drainage system at a home on Quintus Van Der Walt Drive in Norkem Park on May 8.
The owner, Thandi Mapalakanye, arrived home at about 6pm to find the male puppy missing.
“Luckily we could hear his faint cries coming from somewhere around the yard but we just couldn’t figure out from where. We called for help and sent out messages on our WhatsApp street group, from which we received a great response.”
Dorothy Davel, a member of the CPF, said she saw the WhatsApp alert and immediately headed to the house with her daughter.
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“When my daughter and I got there at about 7.30pm, we found people already at the scene, including members of the fire brigade, William (Mzimba) from the SPCA, plumbers, members of the CPF as well as neighbours,” Davel said.
“Everyone just started digging up the garden and cement and breaking into the drainpipes.”
The whole time the team had to listen out for the echoes of the puppy’s cries to help them dig in the right direction.
Finally, at about 11.25pm, the puppy was located and pulled out.
“He was wet, cold, dirty and very thirsty,” Davel said.
Mapalakanye said the family immediately washed him and dried him in front of a heater.
“We are so grateful for everyone’s help. I really don’t know what we would have done without them, honestly,” she said.
Although the yard is still a mess because of all the digging, the family is just relieved the puppy was found alive.
“It was so nice to see that the community can stand together and help each other when the need arises. A big thank you to everyone who assisted,” Davel said.
