Missing search-and-rescue K9’s body found

After four days of searching, the body of missing K9, Jett, was found at the Zeekoegat sewage treatment facility on Wednesday evening around 21:00.

The search and rescue dog from Healthy Hound missing pet search and rescue unit, fell into a manhole while tracking a missing Jack Russel terrier, Freddie, in Kilner Park on Sunday, November 27.

Freddie was found on Monday night.

Jett had tracked the Jack Russel to the reeds in the Hartbeesspruit nature area, Kilner Park when he fell into an open drain. His handler followed to try to save Jett, sustaining minor injuries in the process. She was unable to reach him in time before he was swept away.

Healthy Hound confirmed that the body found at the treatment plant was Jett.

“This evening the team were notified that his body had washed up at a sewerage treatment facility.

“One of our volunteers went out and confirmed that the body is indeed of Jett.”

The unit said now that his body was found, he would be cremated.

“We would like to thank everyone for your messages and support over this difficult time. In honour of Jett, we will still be working but doing limited searches as some handlers are still recovering physically and the team needs time to grieve.”

Members of the search team, including search leader Christelle Brits, have been recovering after feeling the effects of inhaling the methane gas from the sewage pipes they had been searching. Jett’s handler is also recovering after her own ordeal trying to rescue Jett.

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Tanya van Rensburg, of Searchlight, said Jett’s handler suffered minor injuries when she followed Jett down the manhole.

She fell two or three metres down the pipe until she landed in the water. She washed down to the next access pipe where there was a ladder she could climb to safety.

Van Rensburg said that Healthy Hound and Pretoria’s animal lovers that had joined the effort to find Jett would be organising a memorial to pay respects to Jett, but asked concerned people to allow the Healthy Hound team some time to grieve as it had been inundated with calls and messages of support.

Animal lovers from across Pretoria came together after the past four days, sponsoring their time, effort and expertise to help find Jett.

Carl Thornton of Pit-Track K9 conservation and anti-poaching unit, was on site on Tuesday.

The team made a floatation device with lighting and a GoPro and connected it to a deep-sea fishing rod to clear sections of the pipe between the manholes.

However, on Wednesday the search had to be halted.

“Unfortunately we have been blocked by the authorities, they have advised that everything humanly possible has already been done and all the pipes have already been searched with an HD scope. We were advised that anyone opening those manholes again will be arrested,” said Thornton.

On a WhatsApp group that was formed to support the search, animal lovers have already pitched in to help organise a memorial for Jett. The memorial is expected to take place next week.

Anyone that would like to help with the memorial can contact Karlene from Healthy Hound at 083 360 5839.

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