SPCA rescues puppies from harrowing ordeal
The Germiston SPCA recused four puppies from a Marathon informal settlement pit toilet last Thursday.
Senior inspector Burt Coetzee and a cadet from the Bedfordview and Germiston SPCA rushed to the Marathon informal settlement, last Thursday, after receiving reports that four puppies were trapped in a pit toilet.
“The informant told the SPCA that the puppies had been stuck at the bottom of the long drop since last Wednesday.
“The man only noticed the puppies when he came home from work in the evening and immediately contacted us,” explained Coetzee.
The team were not quite prepared for what they encountered.
“From the top of the long drop, the smell and sight were unbearable.
“It is unimaginable what torment the puppies had to experience being stuck inside the pit-toilet for 24-hours or more,” said Coetzee.
One-by-one the puppies were rescued from the pit-toilet.
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“Another puppy, from the same litter, was taken in by the SPCA but he was fortunate enough not to have landed in the pit-toilet,” Coetzee said.
It is uncertain whether the puppies fell into the pit toilet or whether they had been thrown in.
“The pups had some blisters and burns on their bellies due to the constant contact of the human waste,” Coetzee explained.
The pups were taken back to the SPCA, where after over an hour of scrubbing and washing with a bottle of shampoo they started to look much better.
“Due to the ordeal, which the pups had gone through prior to their rescue, they were exhausted.
“This was evident in the bath, as they would simply tip over every now and then due to exhaustion and sleep deprivation,” said Coetzee.
Once the puppies had been cleaned and dried they were taken to a warm area where they were able to enjoy a good meal before settling down in some warm blankets for some well-deserved rest.
“Last Friday the puppies were taken to a veterinarian to be assessed and to ensure that all preventative measures necessary were taken to keep them healthy after being exposed to the human waste.
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“During their visit their blisters and burns were also treated,” explained Coetzee.
The puppies are currently in quarantine to ensure that they are healthy and have had plenty of time to recover before they are put up for adoption.
Coetzee appealed to the community to assist with donations so that the SPCA can continue to assist and rescue animals.
