Starving dog has her day thanks to rescuer
“This dog has been starved from a very young age. Keep in mind that she is actually still a puppy. She is only about six months old and has not even lost her puppy canine teeth.”
LYDENBURG – Starved and chained.
This is how Anthony Trollip, a contractor, found a female greyhound in Skhila. Trollip said he saw the dog while they were installing sewerage ventilation pipes in this extension.
“I was shocked to discover that Lydenburg does not have an SPCA. I phoned White River SPCA and told them about the dog I had found. They were more interested in obtaining my credentials and address than the problem at hand. I was outraged.”
He said dogs are chained or bound by wire at many shacks where they are installing pipes, but that this one was in an absolutely terrible state.
“She was weak and did not even growl or snap at me when I picked her up.” He then phoned one of the local veterinary clinics, which in turn advised him to phone Cathy Schutte of Home 4 Paws. Schutte said she was horrified when she saw photos of the dog.
“I immediately went to where the dog was lying. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. She was skin and bone. Greyhounds are naturally skinny dogs because of their breed, but this was just beyond skinny. This dog was starving.”
Schutte immediately took the dog to Longtom Animal Clinic. Dr Lindie Roux, who is currently a locum standing in for Dr Marietjie Malan, did a thorough examination on the emancipated dog. Roux told Steelburger/Lydenburg News that it has been subjected to chronic starvation.
“This dog has been starved from a very young age. Keep in mind that she is actually still a puppy. She is only about six months old and has not even lost her puppy canine teeth.”
She said the dog was covered in external parasites. “Obviously if that is the case she will also have internal parasites. A dog which has been completely starved without food will have little or no energy. She has some energy which indicates that from a very young age, she has been subjected to very little food resources.”
A blood smear also indicated that the dog suffered from tick bite fever and was being treated accordingly. The greyhound is currently at Home 4 Paws, where Schutte is hoping that she will make a full recovery.
“To those who always complain that only mongrels end up at shelters, here are the facts; all unwanted dog breeds, especially those ‘free to a good home’ end up at shelters,” Schutte said.
