SPCA comes to the rescue of two suffering dogs

SECUNDA – The Highveld Ridge SPCA had to intervene recently in cases where dogs were suffering due to severe injuries.

A distressed woman from Lebohang phoned the SPCA on 4 April, crying that her dog was badly injured when a neighbour beat it with a spade.

She told Snr Insp Jenneth Geel that she tried to doctor her pet with painkillers, but he was not in good shape.

Jacky’s owner told the SPCA that her neighbours – a woman and her adult daughter – accused her dog of biting their chickens. They grabbed the dog that was tied up at his kennel, and dragged him down the street while beating him with a spade.

“We took the animal to a vet who found that Jacky sustained a head wound and a broken jaw. Jacky was operated on and his jaw was joined with stainless steel wire,” said Ms Geel.

Jacky now needs special care and has to wear a special muzzle to protect his jaw. Since the operation, he is not allowed to bite or chew on anything and initially had to be kept on a soup diet. The muzzle may only be removed when the dog eats. His owner visits him three times a week at the SPCA kennels and then plays with him for hours on end.

Insp Geel said on Friday that Jacky is doing exceptionally well. He seemed overjoyed with all the attention he was receiving that day. The muzzle round his mouth did not stop him from trying to sniff, lick and cuddle everyone in sight.

His tongue dangled comically out of the front opening of the muzzle as his tail wagged everywhere – knocking off one of the kittens from the window sill.

“He started on sloppy solid food today, so I am sure this has made him extra happy,” explained Ms Geel.

She said the SPCA has opened a case of animal cruelty against the two women who beat Jacky.

“It also helps our case that witnesses were willing to come forward.”

In another case, the SPCA has stepped in last week to help a greyhound that was a rescue case of another local animal welfare organisation.

According to Insp Geel the dog had a severe leg fracture that should have been operated on months ago. After living in pain for about nine months, the woman who fostered the dog approached the SPCA for help.

“We became aware of this dog in October last year when a concerned Secunda resident called to complain about a very thin dog. When we visited the premises, we found a greyhound with a broken right leg. He was being fostered in a loving and caring environment and we could see that he was being well taken care of in his foster home.

“Once we heard that he was a rescue animal from another welfare organisation, we had no concerns. We stepped back and closed the investigation.”

Ms Geel said the foster mom explained that an operation was eminent and that funds were being raised for this operation.

At that time, the quotation for the operation was about R4 000.

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“We were shocked to hear from the foster mom on 22 March that nothing has yet been done to help the dog. No operation had taken place and she said the dog was in constant pain. We advised her to go back to the organisation to immediately help the animal.”

However, when the foster owner of the dog again sought the SPCA’s help on 10 April, Ms Geel took the dog to two respective vets in the area.

“Both said there were three options. One was reconstruction surgery at Onderstepoort, but it would cost more that R20 000. The second option was to amputate the leg and the third option was to euthanise the animal because it was suffering. We did not have the money to pay for reconstructive surgery, and we also did not want to put the animal down because he had a caring home to go back to,” said Ms Geel.

The SPCA issued a warning on 12 April that the dog should get proper medical treatment from a vet to ensure that the animal has a 24 hour pain-free existence. “We heard nothing, so this week we seized the dog.”

The dog’s leg was amputated on Thursday and he was also sterilised. “As soon as he is out of the woods, we will allow his foster parent to legally adopt him.”

Ms Geel said the SPCA is considering pressing charges and to open a case of animal cruelty.

“The SPCA does not just randomly euthanise animals. We carefully consider each case and we do not want to see animals suffer unnecessarily because they do not have the proper medical treatment or care. In both these cases, the animals had loving homes and caregivers.”

Ms Geel said the SPCA has paid for the operations on both animals.

“We will be able to help more animals in this way if we have the necessary funds. We do not have a constant source of income, so donations are always needed.”

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