In an act of true compassion, Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA fulfilled a heartfelt promise he made to a dog named Rocky at the time of his rescue.
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Rocky, a severely emaciated and suffering Boxer was found on a property in Eerste Rivier, Cape Town.
Despite multiple warnings issued by SPCA’s Lwazi Ntungele, Rocky’s owner failed to provide him with proper care, leaving inspectors with no option other than to obtain a court order for his removal.
The court order was executed on the 29 September, in collaboration with the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement Animal Control Unit with live Facebook coverage that resulted in Rocky winning the hearts of the nation.
Rocky was in a desperate state of neglect. ‘He was literally a walking skeleton’ said Pieterse, ‘It broke my heart to see his condition. I promised him that I would find him a good home and I was determined to keep that promise, no matter what.’
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Following his rescue, Rocky was admitted to the SPCA’s animal hospital in Grassy Park, where a team of veterinarians immediately took over his care.
Unfortunately, Rocky deteriorated a little more every day, despite their best efforts, which included a premium diet and consultations with private veterinarians. When tests confirmed the worst, staff were all devastated, but nobody more so than their chief inspector.
‘Rocky was diagnosed with cancer, his diagnosis was terminal with no hope of recovery and the fact that I wouldn’t be able to keep my promise to him kept me awake at night’ said Pieterse.
There’s no doubt that working in animal rescue takes courage but what the chief inspector did next showed how brave he really is.
He made the decision to adopt Rocky so he could make good on the promise he made two weeks earlier. ‘I knew it would be one of the most difficult things I would ever do, but I had to honour my word and love Rocky as hard as I could for whatever time he had left,’ he said.
Keeping Rocky pain-free and comfortable as a priority, and with clearance from the veterinary team, Pieterse gave Rocky the full loving-owner experience that included a trip to the beach so he could experience the ocean, a ride in a car with his head out the window, more treats, love and cuddles than he’d ever had in his entire life, and on his last day, a trip through the KFC drive-through.
The order was ‘A streetwise two, with no chips, please’, followed by a picnic of the deboned chicken on the grass.
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When Rocky became too weak to take more than a few steps unaided and there was nothing more he could offer him other than love, dignity and peace, the chief inspector held him close, like a loving owner would, as he said his final farewell.
‘It was a hard hello and an even harder goodbye,’ said Pieterse. ‘But as it always is with any animal, he gave me so much more than I ever gave him. I’ll never forget him, and I’ll keep fighting cruelty every single day, in honour of his memory’.
Rocky will be cremated and his ashes will be spread at the beach he enjoyed so much.
The SPCA has extended their heartfelt thanks to every person who allowed Rocky’s story to touch their hearts and every person who contributed towards the costs of his care, hoping for his complete rehabilitation.
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Picture: Supplied / Cape of Good Hope SPCA
