BERTIE, a labrador which was found on the side of the road in Leondale in Germiston, is recovering at the Brackenhurst Vet. It is always so nice to read those feel-good stories, in this case, it is a sad story with a miracle.
Bertie’s story
Bertie was picked up by a kind-hearted man who drove past him on December 3. The man then notified his friend who then sent out an emergency help creed to WhatsApp groups. Louise Leonard from Animal Resource South Africa also messaged the Furry Godmother group via Facebook. This is how Vicky Welman-Gerber from the Furry Godmother heard about Bertie.
“I rushed from work in Alberton North to pick up Bertie, and phoned Zuerina Venter, who is one of the executives of Animal Protection Network (APN), who was going to meet me in Alberton so that she could take him to the vet and I can go back to work,” said Vicky.
“When I picked him up I saw his head hanging and said to myself this dog is going to die. So I drove like hell to Brackenhurst Vet. I remember how I poked him on his mouth at traffic lights to see if he twitches as it looked like he was not breathing,” she said.
When she arrived at the vet, the vet and his staff were ready with stretchers and everything. The vet then tried to find a vein so that blood monsters could be drawn to check for organ failure.
“Bertie is a miracle as the tests showed that there was no organ failure. The only thing is that his red blood cell count is very low and they are still trying to figure out the reason for it,” Vicky said.
“When I got the photo of Bertie from Vicky, I was shocked. What I can say is this dog is broken, his soul destroyed. It is just heartbreaking. How this voiceless boy must have been suffering and just hanging onto life by a thread. Just a dog – how can a human race not see this,” said Zuerina.
Bertie recovering
According to Vicky Bertie is still weak, but he is recovering. At first, the vet wanted to put in a feeding tube, but like the miracle Bertie is, he ate food and drank water by himself.
“We are currently feeding him chicken broth and butternut.” He went for an MRI on December 7. The report indicated that he has a concerning infection in his neck area and two confirmed fractures which are non-surgical but no obvious damage to the spinal cord. An antibiotic regime has been started to treat the infection.
“Doctors are now just trying to treat an infection that he has, but other than that he is doing very well. If I compare his condition now, as to the state we found him in, it is just amazing as he could not even lift his head up after he was found. “He started walking; it is just a miracle really,” Vicky said.
Zuerina said that she is so thankful for Vicky and everyone else who helped.
“The voiceless come first always. He will continue to recover at Brackenhurst Vet and we will be there to give him all the love and support he needs,” she said.
How you can help
So far Bertie received a lot of donations like chicken and canned food. He also had a lot of visitors this past week.
“We want to thank everyone who has donated so far,” said Vicky.
Any donations are welcome to his vet care and can be paid to First National Bank with branch code 252242, account number 59410020398. Use ‘APN Bertie as your reference. People are also welcome to bring any other donations or just to come and visit him.
More about the Furry Godmother and APN
Furry Godmothers started as a page by Vicki Potts Nicholson for people who lost their dogs. A group page where all fliers of missing and found yorkies and small furries are documented for the followers to see and either find their baby or adopt one. Only for South Africa. “We network and reunite,” said Vicky.
APN is a registered non-profit-organisation, which is a combined project by the Alberton community-saving shelter to care for the unwanted and streets dogs, cats, and other animals in need – one animal at a time (Alberton area only). Brackenhurst Vet is a well-established clinic that provides quality care and treatment to all animals. It is now open 24 hours.
WATCH:
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Get regular news updates sent directly to your inbox: Newsletter-Signup
