Beaten dog finds new home
Tania Forrest-Smith could not sleep for two nights because she was on a mission to adopt a four-year-old Jack Russell which had been beaten to a pulp.
The Jack Russell mix, which lost an eye in the incident, was assaulted by a man wielding a golf club in the early hours of Monday morning, in Daveyton.
“I did not sleep on Monday or Tuesday because I was keeping up with her (Tobie’s) progress,” Forrest-Smith told the City Times from the Northmead Veterinary Clinic.
She said she first heard of Tobie’s plight when her friend, Lauren Labuschagne, posted a photo on Facebook of the beaten dog.
“I was just horrified when I saw the post,” said Forrest-Smith.
“I normally skip over these posts because it breaks my heart, but I saw her and I just thought: if she survives this, I just have to have this dog.”
The Northmead resident’s wish came true.
The woman who came to the dog’s rescue at the Benoni SPCA, Samantha Jacobs, allowed her to adopt Tobie, much to her relief, after the original owner relinquished Tobie.
“I was like a child, I was elated,” said Forrest-Smith.
“I did not believe this would ever come true.
“This dog deserves a forever life of unconditional love and we can give it to her.”
She said she is counting down the days for Tobie to be released from the vet, which will be in approximately nine days time.
“I can’t wait for her to have the life she deserves to have.”
Forrest-Smith said she has five dogs, two of which were rescued.
These dog enjoy regular cooked meals of rice, chicken and vegetables, not to mention a king and a quarter-sized bed as their sleeping quarters.
Forrest-Smith believes Tobie will be happy in her new home.
“Everyone says that when they die they want to come back as a dog in my house,” she said.
The dog lover said she will visit Tobie at the vet three times a day until she is discharged.
One of the worst cases of assault
Owner of the Northmead Veterinary Clinic, Dr Peter Sehlodimela said Tobie’s beating was one of the worst he has seen in his career.
He said the dog’s eye ball had to be removed to prevent it from rotting.
Furthermore, there was a 5cm piercing in the dog’s chest, which has affected her mobility.
Sehlodimela said when he saw the dog, his first reaction was that the dog should be euthanased, but due to a lack of internal organ injuries, an attempt was undertaken to save its life.
On Thursday he said that Tobie is “recovering well”, and is running around and eating.
Benoni SPCA turns away original dog owner?
On Wednesday, the Benoni SPCA denied turning away the original owner, Peter Mnguni, and Jacobs from the SPCA, because there was no vet on hand.
Jacobs, who was at the Benoni SPCA when Mnguni arrived with the dog, said she intervened after he was turned away by staff.
She accompanied the Daveyton resident to the Northmead Veterinary Clinic.
Manager of the Benoni SPCA Adele Makings told the City Times that an “intense investigation” is under way.
“As far as I can ascertain, the gentleman did not make it to reception,” she said, adding that the society has been in contact with the owner of the dog, who, according to her, did not consult a staff member at the Benoni SPCA on the day of the incident.
“It is a very serious matter and we will get to the bottom of it,” she said.
The Benoni SPCA could not be reached for comment this afternoon.
