Claremont dog survives 3-storey fall
A local animal rescuer steps in to secure specialist surgery and a foster home after a dog suffers severe injuries in a fall.
Lynne Cole will not quickly forget the morning of September 21, when she received an urgent call from a community member in Claremont informing her of a dog that was hurled from a three-storey building.
“At first I thought I heard wrong,” said Cole, who is well-known for her work in the community, serving both underprivileged people and animals in need.
Through the Lynne Cole Foundation, she has helped countless people and animals over the years.
“I’ve done a lot of work in the area, so everyone in Claremont knows to call me if there is an emergency with an animal.
“This, however, was a first for me.”
Cole said she was even more shocked when the community members sent her a photograph of the dog, and it turned out to be a large male Rottweiler cross.
“I jumped on the phone immediately, looking for a veterinary hospital that could help.
“Bergbron Animal Clinic did not hesitate and told me to get the dog to them as soon as possible.
“I arranged for him to be transported to the clinic, where they confirmed his breathing was very shallow and that he was in shock and severe pain.”
Cole said doctors could not immediately perform X-rays.
“All they could do initially was to give him medication for the pain and inflammation, as well as an antibiotic.
“Once he had calmed down a few days later, they performed the X-ray and noted that he was a very lucky dog indeed.
“His most serious injury was a completely shattered elbow, which would require the services of a specialist.
“A decision was made to send the dog, by now dubbed Zorro, to Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital in Pretoria, where the determination was made that, because of his upper body weight, an amputation was out of the question.
“It was decided to fuse his elbow, which means he will lose some mobility, but over time will be able to stand on the leg again.”
Shattered elbow fused in specialist operation
The operation to fuse the elbow was done on Saturday, October 10, and all indications are that Zorro will make a full recovery.
“I cannot fathom why anyone would do something like this to a dog,” said Cole.
“Zorro is such a good boy, and he has crept into the hearts of everyone that has come into contact with him.
“He has a long recovery period ahead of him, but at least he will do so in a safe environment, as we have already secured a foster home for him.”
