After spending several days trapped in toxic sewage water in Dunoon a severely injured dog was pulled to safety by Cheryl Lyn Potgieter, founder of Cheryl Lyn’s Rescue Organisation. Despite her courageous efforts the rescue ended in heartbreak when the dog’s condition proved too severe to recover.
The rescue unfolded on Monday afternoon after Potgieter had received a distress call from residents. “When I arrived I could only see his black head sticking out of the filthy water,” she recalled. “All I could think was, how did he survive since Friday? The sewage and oil were so bad his poor body must have absorbed the poison.”
With no time to lose Potgieter waded into the contaminated water armed only with her catch pole. “He was about 20 kg, dead weight and there was no other way to get him out. I was drenched and exhausted, but I couldn’t leave him there.”
Community comes together
Potgieter received help from Karen and Blessings from the nearby Green Storage building. “Karen helped fetch my car to park closer while Blessings recorded the rescue,” she said. “Their quick action made all the difference.”
After pulling the dog to safety, Potgieter rushed him to Vet-Clin, where Dr Kate confirmed his front leg was severely broken and that he had been severely weakened after days of suffering. “Even if we tried to pull him through I doubt he would have survived,” she said. “His body had just been through too much.”
She also thanked Nichola and her domestic worker, who first called for help. “If it weren’t for them that poor dog would have died a terrible death,” she said.
A final act of kindness
Although the rescue ended in tragedy Potgieter ensured the dog’s final moments were filled with love. “I held him and made sure he knew kindness before he passed,” she said. “Sometimes euthanasia is a rescue; when an animal has endured so much pain it’s the most humane thing we can do. The veterinarian always knows best.”
Potgieter said what broke her most was knowing how many people had walked past the dog over the weekend without helping. “That’s the heartbreaking part; if I’d known about him sooner we may have saved him.”
She urged residents never to ignore a suffering animal. “If you see a dog in distress seek immediate help. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA will never turn an animal away. We must be their voices; they can’t speak for themselves.”
Potgieter’s organisation continues to rely on public support to rescue and rehabilitate animals in crisis. “There are many kind people in the community who donate, but it’s a constant battle to find funds,” she said. “Every bit helps us save another life.”
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