KAWS to the rescue!

KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Animal Welfare Society (KAWS) proved their dedication and passion to the betterment of animal lives recently when they rescued a poor lost fur ball from a hole/reservoir in White Location.

According to office manager Retha Havenga, municipal law enforcement officials contacted KAWS about a dog stuck in the mud at the bottom of the hole/reservoir on Wednesday 13 December.

Along with general manager Annelien Kitley, KAWS member Helpus Ndlebe went out on their rescue mission to save Stranger, a dog they would later find out wandered away from his home on the day before, 12 December.

"We think he must have been stuck there quite a while because his coat was caked with mud, and as soon as he was freed we noticed that he was quite hungry too.

"Helpus lured him closer with a piece of bread and pulled him out of the mud.

"It's very lucky that the law enforcement guys found him because there aren't any houses nearby, so chances are nobody would have heard him crying. I don't know what would happen if a child should fall in the same hole," said Havenga.

But luckily for Stranger he was found, and after a proper bath, shave and checkup at the KAWS hospital he was ready to go home.

"We shaved him to check if there were any injuries the mud and fur might have covered up.

Stranger, the dog who was rescued, has been reunited with his owners.

"We found a cut on his one leg which we treated, and also treated an abscess on his other leg. Before we declared him safe to go home we sterilised him as well," said Havenga.

Havenga said that the reunion between dog and master was a very happy one. "Stranger's owner was very thankful we found him," she said.

Stranger was rescued by Helpus Ndlebe (left) and Annelien Kitley of KAWS. Here they start cleaning him up after they saved him from the hole/reservoir. Photos: Supplied