An abandoned female pit bull was rescued a week after she was hit by a train. TEARS animal rescue named her Valora, which is Latin for ‘brave’.
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Members of the TEARS team and residents of Lakeside worked together to save the pit bull after she was left abandoned in Muizenberg. Her story started on 14 April, when she was found near a dog bed on the side of the road. ‘It looks like her family left her to fend for herself,’ says Marilyn Hoole, founder of TEARS. ‘Two caring residents and TEARS supporters called me about seeing the dog, who had a dark ring around her neck, as though she had been chained or tied up, and was emaciated. We immediately headed out with a net and treats to try and catch her. We were almost successful, but she was so frightened and strong that she got away from us.’
Hoole notes that what followed was ‘a litany of horrors’. ‘We followed her at a distance so as not to scare her, but then a well-meaning motorist jumped out of their car to catch her. She ran faster and to our horror was struck by an approaching vehicle, injuring her right shoulder. She fell but got up again, clearly in a lot of pain, and continued running blindly.’
After this, four men got out of a taxi and chased her off the Main Road. She reportedly ran through the bushes to the edge of Zandvlei, where she jumped into the vlei in an attempt to flee. She swam across a large expanse of water until she reached an island and disappeared among the reeds.
‘We searched for her for days, leaving food for her in places she had been seen. By now, many residents knew that we were looking for a white and tan pit bull. We followed up numerous calls from people who’d spotted her limping around the vlei area.’ Several attempts to catch her were in vain. Hoole notes that the last time she spotted the dog was on 18 April, after nearly catching her at Lakeside Train Station.
About a week later, TEARS got a call from local resident, Helen Jordaan, saying that a homeless gentleman named Wayne Adams had spotted the dog, lying in the bush off the railway tracks. ‘Helen, her young son, Wayne, and I set off along the tracks from Lakeside station,’ says Hoole. ‘We found the Pittie girl lying in the bush next to the tracks. I couldn’t understand why she didn’t run, and then the horror of the situation hit me – her left front leg had been severed below the elbow joint, and the wound was jagged and smelled rotten. It was an awful sight.’
‘Valora lay there, curled up and stared up at us; it was too heart-breaking for words. We wrapped her in a blanket and took her to Steenberg Vet, where Veterinarian, Dr Achim Steinhagen, kindly waited for us as it was after hours. We were so relieved, as her injury was severe, and she must have been in the most horrendous pain. We realised that she must have been hit by a train the previous week when she ran off down the tracks.’
Dr Steinhagen performed an emergency amputation after the first night of observation, which Valora survived. She is currently in recovery. ‘She is in a lot of pain, which the vet staff are monitoring and controlling with medication. She is also experiencing phantom pain (pain where the missing body part should be) which has had an emotional impact on her, causing confusion.’
Hoole says that Valora greeted them with a loving response when the team went to visit her at Steenberg Vet. ‘She stood up in her cage and came forward, tail wagging. Our hearts were bursting with happiness as she licked our hands and nuzzled them, looking up at us with her big, soulful eyes. She has made it through a terrible ordeal and is now ready to begin a new chapter in her life, one where she will find love, caring, and understanding.’
‘We are inspired and encouraged by the incredible outpouring of kindheartedness toward Valora and what she has endured. Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who has followed Valora’s journey, and supported her and TEARS Animal Rescue, expressing such compassion and donating so generously to her cause.’
Although Valora is recovering well, her medical bills are accumulating fast. To help support her, contact TEARS on 021 785 4482.
Alternatively, donations can be made to:
TEARS
Standard Bank Blue Route
Branch code: 051001
Account Number: 072 062 886
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Picture: Supplied