Rescue dog recovers after 1.5kg tumour removal
The dog was found with a large tumour hanging from her abdomen.
ANIMAL lover, Shabnam Baran visited the Ashburne Veterinary Clinic (AVC) in Durban North last week to check on two dogs she removed from owners in Tongaat. Baran, who founded animal rescue NPO, Stray Paws, said she rescued one dog, Bella from a truck yard where she was found in a state of severe neglect, with a large tumour hanging from her abdomen.
AVC manager, Keegan Schoeman, said it took about an hour to surgically remove the tumor.
“Bella was in a severe state of neglect when she came in. She had multiple tumours. The biggest one, which was removed, weighed 1.5kgs. The previous owner obviously hadn’t treated any of her medical conditions. When she got here, she had to be stabilised. We made sure the tumours hadn’t spread to any of her vital organs, which would have made removing the tumour fruitless,” he said.
The tumour will be sent for pathology and once the medical results come back, vets will decide whether to operate further, he added.Baran is now looking for a home for the dog.
“We are looking for a home for Bella. We want to give her a chance to live the normal life of a dog, and not just be a guard dog. I’m looking for a home where she would be kept indoors and showered with love. Bella is eight years old, sterilised, vaccinated and de-wormed,” she said.
The other dog, Bruno, also found in Tongaat, had been abused, said Baran.”Bruno was abused from the time he was a puppy. He was tied up with a wire to a tree. He is so fearful of humans. Since he’s been at the Ashburne Vet, he’s improved a lot because he’s been showered with love. We brought him here to be neutered and de-wormed. We will put him into rehabilitation for a week or two and then he will be ready to go to his forever home,” she said.
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“Bruno was a severe case not just of neglect, but abuse. When he came to us, no one could touch him without him howling. The vet has checked and there is no actual pain in his body, he’s just terribly scared of humans, and specifically hands touching him. With time, the vet has managed to build trust with him,” added Schoeman.
Baran said she has dedicated her life to rescuing animals, after a near death experience with cancer.
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“I always wanted to work with animals. I was diagnosed with cancer three years ago and when I was on my death bed, I was thinking about all the things I didn’t do in my life. I am in remission now, and when I got a second chance I decided to dedicate my life to helping abandoned, sick and abused animals,” said Baran.
To find out more about adoption, call Baran on 067 698 9876.
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