The Springs SPCA rescued a puppy that was stuck in a drain in Selcourt on the morning of March 20.
One of the rescuers from the SPCA, Ryan Smit (22), told the Springs Advertiser about his experience of the rescue and its impact on him and his team.

Smit says that his heart went out to the little dog. He also says that when he looked at how small and dark the drain was, he didn’t see a pipe but a terrified baby who was cold and alone.

“All I could think about was how much they needed to feel a kind hand and know that help had finally arrived.”

Before Smit arrived, the scene was attended by the SPCA’s manager, Annecia le Roux, who analysed the situation.

Le Roux called for backup, and Smit arrived. Nicknamed the human ferret, Smit went into the pipe with no hesitation and said that it didn’t feel like a risk to him but felt like a promise.

He shares that when an animal is in trouble, they don’t have anyone else to turn to and he couldn’t bear the thought of that puppy waiting one more second in the dark.

“My love for them is so much bigger than any fear I might have for myself,” expresses Smit.

He describes the moment in the pipe as enclosed and quiet. He says in his mind, he was just trying to project as much love and peace as he could.

He adds that he wanted the puppy to feel his presence, not as a threat but as a friend. He emphasised that physically, it was tight, but he just kept imagining the moment he would get to hold that little body against his chest in the warm sun.

“There were moments where the walls felt very close, but I am so blessed to work with a team that feels like family.”

“I knew my manager was right there, watching over me. Every time she checked in on me, it was like a gentle reminder that I was safe, which let me keep all my focus on being brave for the puppy,” says Smit.

Like any rescue, challenges tend to arise, and Smit’s challenge was that the puppy kept moving deeper into the pipe.

He shares that he was able to talk to him with all the softness in his soul. He knew he was too scared to turn around, so he moved very, very slowly, like a quiet protector.

Smit adds that he didn’t want to startle the dog but gently nudged him toward the end of the pipe where the net was waiting, treating every inch of progress like a precious victory.

Despite going alone in the pipe, he shares that his teammates were guiding him, and says having Le Roux at the exit was everything, knowing that the very first thing that puppy would feel when he left the dark was her gentle touch and the safety of that net.

He highlights that as a team, they work as one heart, making these miracles possible. As a young animal rescuer, he believes he was born with the grit and the love needed for the job.

“I worked under the wing of an experienced person who guided me with such patience. But ultimately, it’s just the passion for these animals that carries me. It’s a fire in my heart that tells me I will never, ever give up on them,” he says.

Looking back, Smit says that the most difficult part of the rescue was the worry that the puppy might be too scared to trust him.

He explains that in such a tiny space, as a rescuer, you just want to reach out and scoop them up, but you have to be patient.

He shares that it was a challenge of the heart, wanting to help so desperately but needing to move at the puppy’s pace.

When the puppy was secured, he felt like he could breathe again. For Smit, there is no sound more beautiful than the sigh of a puppy who realises he is safe.

He says that holding him in the light was a moment of pure, overwhelming gratitude.

Smit urged members of the public who encounter animals in dangerous situations, such as the puppy, to contact the animal shelter and respond with care and compassion.

“We are always here to help. If you find a little soul in trouble, just stay near them and speak softly so they don’t feel quite so alone until we can get there to bring them home.”

After everything, Smit noted one thing that stayed with him, which was the way the puppy, which had been named Paul Austral, looked at him afterwards.

He shares that it wasn’t just a look of relief, but a look of pure, sweet trust.

“It reminds me that no matter how dark the world, or a pipe, might be, love can always find a way to bring you back into the light.”

ALSO READ: Learners in the dark as school power cuts spread across Ekurhuleni

ALSO READ: LETTER: Resident demands proper maintenance and security at Geduld Cemetery