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By Leigh Hodgson

Journalist


Four puppies rescued from pit toilet in Germiston

The Germiston SPCA rescued four puppies from a Marathon informal settlement pit toilet in Germiston last Thursday.


Senior inspector Burt Coetzee and a cadet from the Germiston SPCA rushed to the Marathon informal settlement last Thursday, after receiving reports that four puppies were trapped in a pit toilet, Germiston City News reports.

“The informant told the SPCA that the puppies had been stuck at the bottom of the long drop since last Wednesday.”

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“The man only noticed the puppies when he came home from work in the evening and immediately contacted us,” explained Coetzee.

The Germiston SPCA rescued four puppies from a Marathon informal settlement pit toilet last Thursday. The puppies had reportedly been in the toilet for at least 24-hours.

The team members 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.

“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 with the human waste,” Coetzee explained.

The pups were taken back to the SPCA, and after over an hour of scrubbing and washing, their conditions began to improve.

“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.

After a bath, the four puppies, who were rescued from a Marathon informal settlement pit toilet by the Germiston SPCA, warm up after being safely wrapped up.

“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.

“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.

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