The neglect in certain rescue cases can sometimes shock even the most veteran workers and volunteers. For the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa, one case, in particular, showed them just how cruel people could be.
The shelter got a call that there was a dog on a short chain who was sick.
The dog was chained outside someone’s home and the chain they used was apparently really short. The caller also said that the woman who owned the dog didn’t seem to care about the animal’s well-being in the slightest.
The AWS issued a warning and it was promptly ignored, forcing their hand.
Thankfully, the law allowed the AWS to take the poor dog into their custody when it became clear that the woman had no intent to better the life of her dog or show it any kind of kindness. They went to the house and saw the conditions the pup was living in and were shocked.
The dog is named Kuhle and she was emaciated down to the bone.
The pup had almost no hair on her body and looked like she had a terrible skin infection. She was also outside and didn’t have food or water available to her. Even more, she was chained to a metal stake that was incredibly dangerous, especially considering that the chain was the length of an arm.
It looked like the owner had just abandoned her.
“He was distressed to observe that her movement had been restricted to an arms-length and horrified to think that this was all the space she had to exercise, sleep, and defecate in. To him, it appeared as though her owner had forsaken her,” AWS wrote.
When the AWS confronted the woman who was “taking care” of Kuhle, she said she knew that she needed a vet, she just didn’t have the money. The AWS was forced to take the dog from her home and issue her a written warning for animal cruelty and neglect.
The letter meant that she wouldn’t be able to own another animal legally.
Since she gave up the dog willingly, however, they decided not to pursue further legal action – they were ready to help the pup learn what a healthy lifestyle can be. Currently, little Kuhle is getting medicated baths twice a day and is getting a regular meal – basically a dream come true for a dog like her!
She can also walk around for the first time in her life.
The mental effects that being tied to a tiny chain has on a dog can’t be understated. You could see it in how little Kuhle acted and walked, but she was learning to love her new freedom! The journey isn’t over, but Kuhle is in much better hands now.
The goal is to see her recover and find her a home.
Trainee Inspector Sivuyile Kilwa has been working with her daily and knows that her life is immeasurably better now than it was before. Sometimes, all it takes is a little compassion and some time to show a dog what life can really look like.
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