*This article contains graphic imagery that may sensitive readers.
The Animal Welfare Society of SA sees pain and suffering on a daily basis, and no matter how many times the shelter is confronted with this sad reality, they have to restrain themselves and focus their attention on the needs of the patient.
This is easier said than done especially after the Animal Welfare Society of SA was presented with a long-suffering patient named Silo. A beautiful black and tan female dog whose owner from Nyanga East no longer wanted her.
When the shelter first met Silo, on Tuesday, November 30, she was on the backseat of her owner’s car. Silo had that look of rejection and the smell of rotting flesh was pungent, which was caused by a nylon cord (the sort used to hold up track suit pants) that had cut deep into her neck, causing it to swell and ooze pus.
To add insult to injury, when Silo’s owner was challenged about her grotesque wound, she nonchalantly claimed not to have noticed it. There was little point in entering into a debate with her. As far as she was concerned, Silo now belonged to the Animal Welfare Society of SA.
“Sadly there was nothing that we could do to save Silo. She had been cruelly restrained and severely neglected for far too long and the gaping wound that encircled her neck had penetrated her throat. Needless to say we will be charging her owner with cruelty to animals and calling for the harshest possible sanction,” says the Animal Welfare Society of SA.
Another case in point is a stray white cat that was admitted over the weekend.
White cats are susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer and this poor cat’s ears had literally been burnt and eaten away by skin cancer and thousands of maggots living in every orifice on her face.
The cancer had also spread to her right eye and the maggots had already started to devour the infected flesh and tissue. She was reportedly found lying on the verge of someone property.
Exactly how long she had been lying there totally exposed to the elements and being eaten alive is anyone’s guess and whether or not this explanation was true or not is moot as she finally got to experience some compassion and comfort in the arms of the Animal Welfare Society of SA’s courageous Nursing Staff who tend to the needs of all their patients with the utmost care and professional commitment 24/7 year-round.
“We wish our Inspectors and Nursing & Animal Care Centre Teams an abundance of strength this busy holiday season,” the Animal Welfare Society of SA concluded.
Also read:
Picture: Unsplash