In Nomzamo, a deprived area near Cape Town, South Africa, rubbish piles up along a canal that's been turned into an open-air dump. It was there that a flight attendant, returning from work, spotted a shape moving amongst the debris. As she got closer, she realised it was a dog, trapped in the mud and unable to get out on his own.
The animal, a large brown dog, appeared to have spent at least 24 hours stuck in the stagnant, filthy water. He was exhausted, freezing cold and at the end of his strength. Without wasting a minute, the young woman contacted several shelters in the area until she reached Kyle Girodo, an inspector at Animal Welfare Helderberg.
A risky rescue in polluted water
As soon as he learnt of the situation, Kyle Girodo pulled on his boots and set off for Nomzamo. On site, the scene was desperately bleak. "In this area, there's everything: excrement, rubbish, dirty water... everything you can imagine is dumped there," he told The Dodo.
Despite the smell and the filth, the volunteer didn't hesitate to enter the water, sinking up to his knees. "You never know how a dog in that state is going to react. He's terrified, frozen, in shock," he explains. Especially as in these areas, dogs are often used for guarding rather than companionship, and some have never known the gentleness of a stroke.
When Kyle approached, the dog initially bared his teeth. But by gently covering his head with a towel and taking him in his arms, everything changed. "As soon as I held him close, he relaxed. It was as if he was thinking: 'Ah... this is nice,'" he recalls.
Moose finally discovers the comfort of a dog's life
Once pulled from the water, the dog was taken to the shelter where he could finally rest, warm and safe. After a good meal and a peaceful night, the volunteers gave him a bath to rid him of the accumulated grime.
Treated to prevent any infection, Moose quickly regained his energy. Still wary at first, he's gradually beginning to trust humans and appreciate their presence. In a few days, he'll be able to join the shelter yard and meet other dogs. Soon, he'll be ready to start a new life, this time surrounded by affection.
