A dog that crawled into a concrete stormwater drain after being knocked by a vehicle was rescued following a dramatic two-day operation involving the Pietermaritzburg Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), uMgungundlovu District Fire Department, a councillor and road construction workers in Ashburton on Friday morning.
The dog was struck by a vehicle near the intersection of the R103 and D506 on Thursday.
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After the collision, the injured animal crawled about 15 metres into a stormwater drain, where rescuers spent hours trying to reach it.
Basemajor China State Joint Venture flagstaff Ntokozo Ndimande said he witnessed the dog being knocked by a vehicle and immediately rushed to assist.
“I pulled the dog to the side of the road to prevent it from sustaining further injuries. The dog had a rope around its neck, which is how I was able to pull it to safety, but it then ran into the drain,” said Ndimande.
Basemajor China State Joint Venture principal contractor for Sanral, Justin Kumkurren, said Ndimande alerted him that the dog was trapped in the drain.
He then contacted Ashburton Ward councillor Edith Elliott, and together with the Pietermaritzburg SPCA and Umgungundlovu District Fire Department they launched a rescue operation.
Rescuers worked throughout Thursday but were forced to suspend the operation after dark because of poor lighting and the dangers posed by fast-moving traffic.
The operation continued on Friday morning, when the team spent a further two hours trying to rescue the dog.
“The dog was stuck quite far inside the drain, almost 15 metres in. We all assisted in removing debris at the entrance so that the SPCA team and firefighters could gain access to the pipe and pull the dog to safety,” said Kumkurren.
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We informed the owners that the dog had been knocked, but they simply said they would come and bury it. The dog has now been taken to the SPCA to receive treatment.
Elliott said the rescue was an emotional experience, particularly as SPCA rescuers crawled into the narrow drain to reach the injured animal.
“Everyone came together to assist with rescuing the dog, but the owners just said they would come and bury him, even when we told them the dog was still alive,” she said.
“Every effort was made on Thursday to remove the dog, but it was too far inside, and there was a lot of debris in the drain. Food and water was provided for the dog, but he didn’t touch it.”
“It was incredible to watch the SPCA team crawl into such a confined space, with a fire hose secured around one rescuer, before they eventually managed to pull the dog to safety.”
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The dog was rescued on Friday morning and transported to the SPCA for treatment.
