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Hope’s campaign ignites community spirit
The story of Hope, a dog who was rescued by Hayley Wright on the N3 recently after she had been knocked over by three cars and a truck, has rallied support from across the globe.
“SAVING Hope didn’t change the world, but it certainly changed the world for Hope.”
These were the words of Hayley Wright, who found the frightened and severely injured dog on the N3 highway on Friday, 27 March.
“I saw a black dog get hit by three vehicles and a huge truck. I managed to pull over and get the dog safely to the side of the road. It was a miracle she had survived. I rushed her to the Kloof and Highway SPCA where I was told by Dr Yesh Govender that her leg was severely broken, and he didn’t know what internal problems she might have incurred,” Wright said.
She was saddened when Dr Govender delivered the news that if her owners did not come forward, she would most likely be put down due to her severe injuries. Fixing the leg would prove too costly for the SPCA.
“My heart sank as I knew an owner would not pitch up. The dog was just another stray from a township. I decided to take matters into my own hands. I told Dr Govender, to his surprise, that I would stand surety and I will pay for the dog’s operation.”
She called it her moment of madness at the time, but said she had to help the dog, which she eventually named Hope.
Help for Hope goes viral
AFTER sharing the post on various Facebook pages it went viral: “I had the whole of KwaZulu-Natal excited about Hope.
“Dr Llwelyn Evans from the Everton Veterinary Clinic did Hope’s X-rays at cost, and it turned out there was a severe break in her leg as well as a fracture. She needed a plate and a pin, an operation costing R17 000.”
Determined to save Hope, Wright opened a page for Hope on Facebook called Save Hope: “Overnight I had 300 likes. I asked the public to help me raise funds for the operation and the money came flying in from all over the world.”
But the community’s kindness didn’t end with donating a few pennies. When Wright asked if a vet would be willing to help with the surgery, Julie Meyers, Dr Bruce Meyers’ wife, then offered assistance on behalf of her husband, who is an an orthopaedic surgeon from St Helier Veterinary Hospital.
“After meeting with Dr Meyers he agreed to do Hope’s operation at cost, which was such an incredible offer. Then it happened. The public absolutely loved Hope and her story. Get well cards flooded into the St Helier Vet practice for Hope, we had donations of food and gifts for Hope. The man who helped me get Hope off the road visited every day and made a huge donation to help me with her costs,” Wright added.
But Wright came to a sad conclusion: “The truth is, Hope is just another stray. There’s nothing special about her. There are millions of Hopes out there waiting to be homed or being put to sleep because the SPCA can not afford to save their lives. It was so easy to help Hope, and if I can make a miracle happen in less than a week, anyone can. Saving Hope didn’t change the world, but it certainly changed the world for Hope.”
What’s next for Hope
HOPE now faces a six to eight-week recovery period, with post operation care and physiotherapy, and then the Kloof and Highway SPCA will place her into a forever home.
The funds raised paid for Hope’s operation, but any extra monies raised will be donated to the Kloof and Highway SPCA to help with her recovery. “They need as many donations as possible to help save Hope and other dogs just like her,” Wright said.
“To Dr Govender, Dr Evans and Dr Meyers: there is a very special place in Heaven just for you and for all those who have helped me to save Hope,” she said.
