Community rallies for injured Boerboel, Tyson
A local family has been overwhelmed with the support they have received from the community following a traumatising incident involving their dog, Tyson.
CHRISTA Ritchie was reduced to tears as she told the story of how a community rallied to offer support for her injured dog, Tyson, a three-and-a-half-year-old Boerboel.
Tyson jumped through a windowpane at the family’s Ashley home on New Year’s Eve, cutting the muscles and tendons on his lower foreleg. The Westville Veterinary Hospital then operated on his leg on Saturday, 3 January.
“I took to the Upper Highway Info group on Facebook to express my opinion about fireworks and the dangers they pose for animals following our incident with Tyson. I was not looking for money, but the next day Margaret Stoop called me and asked if I would mind if she ran a fundraiser for Tyson and his steep medical bills.
“I want to cry when I talk about it, because I didn’t know there were so many people that would care about a family they didn’t know. The support has been out of this world. How do you thank those, who have donated money towards Tyson’s medical bills, enough?” Ritchie said.
According to Ritchie, Tyson was never agitated by fireworks before, but she said for some reason this year he was terrified. The family suspects that someone threw a cracker into their garden, which prompted the terrified dog to jump through the window.
“My son, Shaun (21), and his girlfriend, Tyla Vermeulen (20), were alone at home on New Year’s Eve when they heard a window break. My husband and I were at a party in Kloof when we got a phone call from Shaun at about 11.45pm. He said someone was inside the house and said they locked themselves in the bedroom. We immediately jumped into our cars and rushed home,” Ritchie said.
While on their way home, she contacted the Ashley Residents Neighbourhood Watch, as well as her neighbour, and informed them of the alleged burglary.
“Halfway on our way home, my neighbour contacted us and told us there was no intruder, but that Tyson had jumped through the window and badly injured himself. When we arrived at home, Shaun had Tyson, who weighs 50 kilograms, in his arms and said he needed to go to a vet immediately as he was dying.
“Bronwyn Pitt from the neighbourhood watch bandaged Tyson’s cut leg while we were still on our way home,” she said.
They then contacted the Sherwood Veterinary Clinic’s after-hours vet, who waited for their arrival: “We had no idea where the clinic was, so the neighbourhood watch drove us there. When they arrived, the vet said there was nothing he could do for Tyson as his injuries were too severe for the equipment they had. They referred us to the Westville Veterinary Hospital, where we took Tyson the next day.”
Ritchie said although the experience was an extremely traumatising one, she was humbled by the support they received from complete strangers.
For now Tyson remains under the supervision of the vets, but the Ritchie family said they hoped Tyson would be home by Friday.
If you would like to make a donation, contact Margaret or Carmen on 031 764 6318. Any extra money raised will be used for future dogs in need.
