Animal lovers save petrol-puppies

CRADOCK NEWS - A post on a local Facebook page, Cradock Soekhoek, is what most probably saved the lives of six puppies after they were doused in petrol.

In a post by Zoleka Bontsi on 27 March, she explains that the owner of the dogs has passed away and the puppies have nowhere to go. She took them in but unfortunately someone had poured petrol over them.

"There is a dog that gave birth to seven pups. The owner passed away and the dog is chased by everybody at Marlow. It found warmth and love here. Last evening at 09:00 I heard the puppies crying. I woke up to check. I tried to pick them up only to find someone poured petrol over them whilst sleeping and the mother ran away. We washed them and put them in a safe place.

"I am looking for SPCA to take the mother and puppies. Here they are not safe at all. I'm asking for any help I can get for this dog and her puppies as they were nearly killed last night," read part of her post.

Zoleka Bontsi, from Queenstown, accompanied by her son, Xhanti Mahokoto, and her grandson visited the Cradock Animal Shelter last Saturday to check on the dog and her puppies. Photo: Talitta de Wilde (Cradock Animal Shelter)

As there is no SPCA in Cradock, local animal lover Amanda van Wyk immediately contacted the Cradock Animal Shelter via WhatsApp.

The animal shelter's Talitta de Wilde in turn tracked Bonsi to a construction camp situated on the other side of Marlow Agricultural School. Without hesitation, Van Wyk and De Wilde went to the puppies and found six were still alive.

"My son and grandson washed the puppies to get rid of the petrol," said Bonsi.

According to De Wilde the puppies were about one week old when they came to their rescue. How or why the puppies were doused in petrol could not be confirmed.

The mother and her pups were taken to safety at the Cradock Animal Shelter where Bonsi and her son paid them a visit on Sunday 18 April.

Bonsi is in Queenstown where she is involved with construction and the puppies are happy and healthy at the animal shelter where they are cared for and will be available for adoption shortly," said De Wilde.

The six-week-old puppies, that were doused in petrol, were taken to safety at the Cradock Animal Shelter. They will be available for adoption shortly.