Animal lovers Sophia and Allen van Deventer consider their ten furry companions to be members of the family and can’t imagine what their lives would be like without them.
For them, it’s impossible to envision conditions where dogs are forgotten, neglected or undervalued. So, when they heard an unsettling commotion involving dogs on the morning of Friday, May 6 at their home on Cilliers Street they immediately rushed outside.
“There was a dog attack on the opposite side of the road. A little Jack Russel was being attacked by three large pit bull cross-breeds. With the help of a neighbour we rushed the defenceless Jackie, named Jessica, to the Helderkruin Vet Clinic where she was taken care of immediately,” Sophia explained.
According to residents of Boshoff Street, which is opposite Cilliers Street on the other side of the railway, Jessica and her friend Peanut were often seen escaping the yard and wandering the streets. It is believed that while Jessica was roaming the streets on the Friday morning, the gate to the property where the three large dogs lived had been left open.
The eventual meeting of the four dogs was inevitable. Unfortunately for Jesse, she had to take on the pack alone.
“It was bad. Jessie was bitten so severely, you could see her bare bones and her intestines. While the owner wanted her to be euthanised, the vet believed she was worth saving,” Sophia said.
While it seemed that Jessie was doing better the following couple of days, Sophia received the heart-breaking call on Wednesday morning (May 11). Jessie didn’t make it.
“Our hearts broke, because we were fighting for this little dog. We were willing to do everything we could to save her. But at least we know that she’s in a better place, free from any pain,” she said.
“Unfortunately neither the owners of the Jackie, nor the pit bulls would take responsibility. Currently Jessie’s vet bill is at R18 000, so we have taken it upon ourselves to honour a brave little doggie by trying to raise funds to settle the account. Unfortunately we can’t do it on our own.”
Since the attack, Jessie’s owner had surrendered her other Jack Russel, Peanut. According to Sophia and Allen, they were more than happy to take him into their care. As most of their dogs are rescues, they believe that Peanut will fit right into the Van Deventer family and enjoy living in a safe, loving environment.
Sophia and Allen are currently approaching companies and organisations for donations which will help them settle Jessie’s account. If you wish to help the couple, or find out more, feel free to contact Sophia on 061 544 6915.
“A dog will teach you unconditional love. The least we can do is to look after them to the best of our abilities,” she concluded.
