A sense of true community spirit was showcased when concerned residents, neighbourhood farm-watch members, animal-welfare representatives and volunteers teamed up to save a missing dog that had been trapped in a narrow rock crevice on the mountainside in Sir Lowry’s Pass for six days.
The traumatic ordeal culminated in a happy occasion when the eight-year-old Rottweiler Eva was found on Friday afternoon (31 May) and reunited with her owners after the incredible rescue mission, which was nothing short of miraculous, later the night. Her owner said the beloved four-legged family member went missing the previous Saturday morning (25 May) after strong winds forced the gate of their Knorhoek Estate home open, prompting the pet to run out and explore the surrounds.
After learning that Eva was not around, the family took to driving around calling out to her and informing all neighbours and a horse-riding group of the canine’s disappearance.
The owner ascribed the successful rescue mission to divine intervention. “It was a miracle that the reserve and winery managers were out checking the area, and had passed close by and heard her howling call since I had passed this area numerous times. So a team of angels was available and just turned up with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and she was found alive after six days.”
‘Macgyvering’ into action
The owner further shared that the rescue mission saw a qualified team assemble, “Macgyvering” their lifesaving plans into action. Among first responders on the scene were primary rescuer James Smart from Smart Tac Search and Rescue, skilled mountaineer Steve Chadwick, Lee Kennedy and Prosper Blassen from the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) Helderberg, Claire Knoop from The Barking Ark and Sir Lowry’s Pass Farm Watch members and other volunteers.
READ: Lwandle man’s compassionate animal rescue efforts praised
In a detailed account, Chadwick recalled Eva being located within a tight shaft of a big boulder, which had “split asunder eons ago by a vertical crack”, a short 20 m scramble off a high, seldom-used mountain trail. “The missing dog was some 6 m along the fissure, completely trapped, jammed head first, on its back, with its rear legs just visible,” he said. “Even a small person would not be able to reach the dog, so we put together our equipment and made a plan. A safety rope was put around the waist and ankles of the volunteer who would enter part way along the tight cleft, so we would be able to extract her.”
Little by little she was pulled out
Chadwick said the team resorted to threading his old climbing rope through the centre of a long aluminium pole which, with use of a very simple slip knot, allowed them to tightly lasso the dog’s protruding rear leg and pull her out. “The dog moved and ‘keep pulling’ came the cry. Little by little the large dog was pulled from an unpleasant fate, out into a future life, until at last she lay before us, exhausted, dehydrated and hungry from being stuck deep inside the rock.
“After a quick body check and some water greedily lapped up, a stretcher was rigged up using a large folded aluminium cloth, and with three guys on either side the rescue team was guided up the looping trail to the 4×4’s waiting on the high jeep track.”
Eva’s owner had no words to express the family’s gratitude after her rescue from the harrowing ordeal. She is relatively unscathed, apart from a few wounds including on the head, thanks to the valued impromptu coordination. “The huge feeling of community [is heart-warming],” said the owner, who further expressed appreciation for neighbours who know and watch out for each other.
Eva, who was lovingly gifted to the owner as a birthday present, is on the road to recovery, slowly returning to her kind, loving and observant self.
