A dog that was spotted on the edge of a high ledge alongside the Gautrain bridge over the N1 highway in Centurion, located between Johannesburg and Pretoria, has been rescued and is doing well in his new home.

Information about the dog was shared on social media yesterday morning, prompting the community to try and rescue him.

Yola Strauss saw the post and immediately alerted community security groups.

Minutes later, she was told that someone was on the way.

One of the rescuers who helped save the dog, Stean Rossouw from security service, Counterpoint Risk, says they received a call at 09:00 from Centurion Concerned Citizens.

“I think the dog had been lost for quite a while. Just by chance, he found his way up onto the bridge.”

When Rossouw arrived at the scene, a Tshwane metro police officer (TMPD) was already on the ledge trying to bring the dog back down to safety.

He says the dog was right at the end of the ledge, the highest point close to the highway.

Community members were also on the scene with food and water at the ready, as the dog looked to be starving and dehydrated.

Rossouw, who works with dogs, had a leash in his car and told the TMPD officer to come down, so he could try and put the leash on the dog.

“When I approached him and tried to put on the leash, he was a bit scared and growled at me. But I work with dogs, and I wanted to get him out of danger.”

Community member Lindy Nel was prepared to make sure the dog was safe and uninjured, once he was rescued.

“I know the dog is in good hands,” says Rossouw.

Nel told Rekord the dog is safe, although scared and exhausted.

“I have named him Rexi,” says Nel, who fed him, gave him water and wrapped him in a blanket.

She didn’t notice any urgent injuries on the dog last night and took him to Eldoraigne Animal Clinic this morning.

The vet says he isn’t a puppy. He’s about three or four years old, says Nel.

“He has several bite wounds on his leg, with some inflammation from where he might have been injured or from the bite wounds that have become infected.”

Rexi has been started on a course of antibiotics to help him heal, says Nel.