Flea-stricken puppy rescued from storm drain in Montclair
Montclair residents sprung into action and safely rescued a puppy that found itself trapped in a storm drain.
MEMBERS of the Montclair community worked together to rescue a puppy that had fallen into a stormwater drain near Bale Avenue on November 4.
Also read: Tactical officer dives into Merebank Canal to rescue dog
Alton Logan who was passing by, said he heard the desperate barks of the puppy. He immediately removed the manhole lid and peered into the drain to see what he could do to save the puppy. He recorded a video of the terrified pup and immediately forwarded it to the Ward 64 animal care WhatsApp group.
Cerrie-Anne Gunn, a member of the Montclair Crime Eye saw the video and immediately drove to the scene. By the time she had arrived, Logan had already climbed into the drain and was attempting to reach the puppy.
“The terrified puppy had moved further up the pipe, but we could still hear his cries. I put out a plea for help and used some dog food to lure him out,” said Gunn.
Within minutes, Justin Stevens, Mari Budler and Belinda Harcombe, members of the animal care group, joined the rescue effort. They brought along dog food to coax the frightened puppy to safety. After a few tries, with Logan’s soothing words and the scent of food, the puppy finally managed to move within reach. Logan then carefully caught the frightened pup and handed him to the rescuers above ground.
The little puppy, named Brody, was taken to a local vet for immediate care. Gunn shared that Brody was malnourished and infested with ticks and fleas but thankfully was given a clean bill of health. Budler said she was fostering Brody until his owner was found. She was ready to offer him a forever home if no one claimed him.
Gunn said incidents like this highlighted the area’s persistent pet-care problems.
“We have a major issue in our area with uncontained, unsterilised dogs. People are breeding puppies irresponsibly and don’t bother with vaccinations at six weeks to prevent diseases like parvo,” she said.
Brody’s rescue was a testament to the strength of community and the kindness of people.
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