Beloved pet killed by live wires on railway track
Community pulls together to search for Borris the Rottweiler.
Sad news broke on Saturday, January 2 when Borris the Rottweiler was found dead next to the railway line at Frasers, between Ballito and Tongaat.
The 11-month-old dog caused a stir in the community when he went missing at around lunchtime on Friday, December 25 when his owner, Donlee Channing could not find him on their property near Umhlali Country Club in Ballito.
“At first I did not think much of it, as I thought he was just exploring around the garden, but when he was still missing the next morning I started to worry,” said Channing, who then took to Facebook to rally the community in the hopes of bringing Borris home.
The Channing family also put posters up around town to raise awareness about their beloved pet, but after eight long days without him, an alternative plan was made.
More than 30 friends, family, neighbours and concerned members of the community met at the Ebandla Hotel in Ballito to organise a search party for the missing dog.
After nine days away from home, Borris was finally found the same day of the search, but the cause of death suspected to be electrocution as he was lying next to two live wires.
“After Borris was found on Saturday, I just could not sleep that night knowing that he was still lying there. As the wires were still live, the risk of electrocution was too great for us to take him home – we were told it was way too dangerous to even touch him,” said Channing, who added that she was very touched by the offer of KwaDukuza municipal workers to help her retrieve their pet.
On Sunday, Channing went back to the site where Borris was found with the KwaDukuza workers so that they could put on rubber gloves and recover his body.
“The outpouring of love and support we have received from the Ballito community has been tremendous. We truly live in a beautiful place with some amazing people here – I just wish I could reply to every message, but there were just so many,” said Channing.
Borris the Rottweiler was buried by the Channings in their garden at home on Sunday afternoon, where the young explorer can finally rest in peace.
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