Selfless act saves dogs life in Buccleuch

A selfless act of kindness by a Buccleuch resident saved the life of a lost and neglected Maltese poodle on 24 June.

Christina Easton saw the small dog near a river which was clearly lost and bewildered. The frightened dog was about to run into the road when Easton managed to catch the poodle.

Easton took the wet, tangled and matted animal to the Sandton Marlboro SPCA. The dog was incredibly unkempt and dirty and before any medical assessments could be done he first had to be bathed.

Michelle York of the Sandton Marlboro SPCA said, “The shivering dog was quickly taken to our grooming/dog washing area where the committee members tried their best to wash him but he was covered in mud, muck, and burrs.

“All was not lost when he expressed his gratitude for his warm bath by licking the hands that were washing him.”

York added that despite their best efforts, grooming was an impossible task and the dog was taken to Parktown North Vet Clinic for an assessment. The dog, who has been named River, was kept overnight for assessment and was collected the following day.

“[Under] all that filth and knotted fur was a small and incredibly sweet Maltese poodle.” York said if they were unable to trace his family he already had a prospective new mom who fell in love with River.

“It is everyday heroes, like Christina Easton, who took time to not only rescue the small dirty dog, but to be persistent in attracting Sandton SPCA staff’s attention by hooting at a locked gate that saved River’s life.”

York said River could not have survived very long in his state during the cold winter nights. “Don’t look away when you see an animal in distress. A moment out of your day could make the difference between life and death.”

For more information contact the Sandton Marlboro SPCA 011 444 7730.

Do you recognise River and know his owners? Let us know on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page.