A dog whose paw was chopped off, apparently for muti, will be fitted with a prosthetic limb.
|||Durban - A 10-week-old Jack Russell whose left paw was chopped off, apparently for muti, will become one of the first dogs in KwaZulu-Natal to be fitted with a prosthetic limb in coming days.
The dog was found close to death by Cape Town animal rescuer Helene Strydom on a highway near the Tokai informal settlement three weeks ago, and was nursed back to health before being put up for adoption on Strydom’s Facebook page.
The advert caught the eye of Sharyn McNeal of Assagay who said she instantly felt a flicker of love in her heart for the tiny pooch, who she’s named Boston Riley because he was found on the day of the Boston Marathon bombing. It’s also in memory of her son Riley who died of a heart attack at the age of 27.
Riley means valiant and courageous.
Recalling how she came to adopt the dog, McNeal said: “I already have two Jack Russells and was not in the market for another dog. But this guy... there was just something about him. At the time I did not know he was disabled. I tested the waters with my husband Lance and asked if we could get him.”
She said she contacted Strydom and was told more than 300 people had applied to adopt Boston Riley.
”(Strydom) said when she found him he was close to death. His left leg had been chopped off and he could not even walk. He had been badly abused and was very afraid.”
She said there were unconfirmed reports that his leg had been used for muti purposes.
“People apparently chop the leg off and bury it in front of their businesses for prosperity. It is also used for protection.”
McNeal said her heart sank when Strydom told her about the adoption list.
“I put my name on the list. I then e-mailed pictures of Lance and myself with our two dogs to her. She was impressed. We were the only ones that made such an effort. She phoned us and told us the dog was ours.”
Boston Riley remained in Cape Town for another week before he was flown to Durban.
“He was the sweetest, tiniest thing... it was love at first sight,” McNeal said.
She said Pam Goudie, who ran a dog parlour, had suggested fitting Boston with a prosthetic limb.
“She said she knew a friend who fitted prosthetic limbs for humans and was going to challenge him to make one for Boston.”
Chris Beresford of Tap Kruger Orthopaedics, in Durban, rose to the challenge.
Said Beresford: “My wife Christie is an animal lover and there was no way I could refuse. She persuaded me to help the little guy.”
He said he agreed to sponsor Boston’s limb, which will be made of carbon fibre, at a cost of R15 000.
“This is a first for us. We have never made a limb for an animal before. It is not an easy process,” he said.
“The size of it makes it an intricate process. We have already cast the mould and hopefully he will be fitted with the limb by next week.”
McNeal said Boston was taken to a vet where he was sedated for the mould to be taken.
“Chris has agreed to take care of Boston’s limb until he is an adult. His good leg is already skew. Thankfully, it will not be damaged anymore.
“The new limb will give him a new lease of life.”
McNeal said Boston’s will to live had prompted her to take him to local schools to speak to kids about animal cruelty.
“I tell them about hope and belief. I also encourage them to speak out against bullying and abuse. We have been to three schools and are booked for other sessions in coming weeks,” she said.
“Just like the survivors of the Boston marathon, our champ has triumphed and has gone on to be an inspiration. He is a true hero...”
* The couple have set up a Facebook page for the dog: http://www.facebook.com/Rileypaysitforward. Schools that would like to contact them for talks about the dog can do so through the page.
Daily News