Exhausted goats rescued from manhole after 6-hour SPCA mission in Mamelodi
SPCA inspectors braved dangerous, confined conditions to free two trapped goats after a passer-by heard their cries.
The Tshwane SPCA recently rescued two goats that were trapped deep inside a manhole after a gruelling six-hour operation in Nellmapius, Mamelodi.
Pretoria Rekord reports that no one knows how the animals ended up in the manhole, but their desperate cries echoed through the area until a concerned member of the public heard them and contacted the SPCA.
When inspectors arrived, they were met with a heartbreaking sight.
Tshwane SPCA general manager Tebogo Maswanganye says the goats were exhausted, dehydrated, hungry and visibly weak.
“They were frantically running up and down inside the manhole, with no way out,” says Maswanganye.
Maswanganye says the rescue was far from easy as inspectors had to crawl into a confined, suffocating space littered with bottles and debris, making it difficult to manoeuvre.
Opening the heavy concrete slabs covering the manhole was another challenge. With the help of a TLB machine, they eventually gained access.
For nearly six hours, inspectors worked tirelessly, even climbing inside the manhole themselves despite the risks of injury, unstable surfaces and becoming trapped.
Their determination finally paid off when both goats were lifted to safety without injury.
Once rescued, the goats were immediately assessed by the SPCA team.
“They were clinically healthy besides being hungry, dehydrated and exhausted. They were fed, given water and have since made a full recovery.”
He says the owner of the goats remains unknown.
The SPCA has made it clear that if no one comes forward, the animals will be put up for adoption after a set period.
“Our inspectors are well-trained and provided with the rightful resources for rescues, but every call comes with unpredictable challenges,” he says.
Maswanganye adds that rescues like this are only possible thanks to community members who take action when they see animals in distress.
“The public is encouraged to never leave any animal to suffer and to contact the nearest SPCA to assist. It is also a responsibility of every owner to look after their animals properly so that animal welfare becomes a daily practice for everyone.”
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