The heart warming benevolence displayed in aid of a vulnerable furry friend on the verge of death has earned a Lwandle local deserving praise last Wednesday (21 June).
Gregory Mutunyana was dubbed a hero of the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) Helderberg after the selfless samaritan turned to devoted staff of the organisation to help a seriously injured stray dog that was apparently struck down by a motor vehicle and left at the roadside to die.
Mutunyana showed up at the Gordon’s Bay kennels with the dog that had apparently sustained serious internal injuries resulting in paralysis on Wednesday morning. The heart-wrenching sight of the seemingly lifeless dog on the side of the road had prompted him to stop his car, climb out and check whether the animal was still alive.
Mutunyana proceeded to place the dog, which he dubbed Pluto, into his car and transport him to the facility in Mansfield Crescent. “I saw Gregory arriving at the kennels with a very sad looking dog in his hands,” recalled Clare Travers, AWS canine manager.
“I immediately saw the dog was in a very bad way and questioned Gregory about where he had found the dog and what the circumstances were of the discovery. I was completely humbled by his beautiful heart and what he had done for Pluto. Gregory was even so concerned that he asked us please let him know what had happened to Pluto. As I watched Gregory leave the kennels I thought to myself, ‘This is what a hero looks like. I wish the world had more people like him. What a good man. May God bless him’.”
She confirmed the stray dog’s condition. “It’s our responsibility to take in stray dogs in need of medical assistance. He was seriously injured and paralysed. He had some very bad wounds on his body that had turned septic. He was very emaciated and neglected.”
Travers further said following a medical examination the call was made to put the small, black afrikanus to sleep and to let him join the angels in doggy heaven as his injuries were just too severe. Mutunyana was lauded for valued compassion by Facebook audiences who had stumbled across the organisation’s heart-warming post, which detailed his heroic efforts, and extended a special thank you from AWS stalwarts.
“Thank you for caring enough to stop,” the post read. “Thank you for your love of animals. Thank you for having a beautiful heart. Thank you for rescuing Pluto. Thank you for not letting him suffer any longer. Gregory Mutunyana, today you are our hero.”
Travers highlighted Mutunyana’s efforts as one that restores faith in humankind. “He ended Pluto’s suffering and cared enough to help an animal in need. We are experiencing and witnessing so much animal cruelty, neglect and abuse at the moment, which is really sad and disheartening. It gives us so much hope to see what Gregory did for Pluto and it’s so wonderful to know there are good people who will still go the extra mile to help an animal in need. There’s a saying, ‘We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals,’ and this makes him a hero.”
In an unrelated incident Helderbergers turned to the newspaper to applaud animal welfare representatives who came to the rescue of vulnerable animals trapped in flooded areas especially in the vicinity of Victoria Street during the recent heavy rains.
Providing insight, AWS manager Julia Evans said the rescue mission was initiated after calls for assistance at the flooded Kays Caravan Park were received via fellow animal welfare organisation PetPals before 08:00 on Wednesday 14 June. “We dispatched Inspector Robin Landsdale, who radioed for more assistance which was needed,” recalled Evans. “Lucy Clark was then dispatched along with our animal welfare assistant Lee Kennedy.
“An hour later calls came in from K9 and Bridges for assistance in Victoria Park, Lourensia Park and the informal settlement along the Lourens River banks, ‘Wrong Turn’. Inspector Kyle Girodo was then dispatched to assist in these areas.”
Apart from the four AWS staffers, PetPals and K9 and Bridges representatives, the Helderberg Bunny Project also responded to the situation and put up a remarkable show of willingness to assist in times of crisis.
Asked what rescue efforts entailed, Evans shared: “Getting really wet! Staff and volunteers on site at facilities reshuffled animals to open up kennels. Those in ‘the field’ waded through waist-high waters, picking up not only animals belonging to people, but strays too. All three vehicles did several runs each.”
According to Evans the AWS took in altogether 28 dogs and 10 cats, and Marissa van der Merwe of the Helderberg Bunny Project sheltered eight bunnies and two guinea pigs. Petpals also rescued many animals, which were taken to various vets for safekeeping.
“With exception of the bunnies and guinea pigs (currently under veterinary care), the overall condition of the animals are good,” Evans said. “So far 15 dogs and two cats have been returned.
“I am deeply grateful to all the rescues and volunteers who worked together. I know that the Helderberg Animal Rescue Team (Hart) and other local organisations were equally inundated in other areas and also had their hands full.”
