Written by Merinda Brits – Founder of 4Paws
Professional photography by Strike a Pose Studios
On a recent visit to Olivienhoutbosch Township, we discovered a tiny white-and-brown puppy lying beside the road, struggling to move. On closer inspection, we realised that she was malformed and could not get up - probably why she had been dumped like trash. But no animal is trash, and we knew we had to help her.
A will to live
We immediately took the tiny scrap to our vet for x-rays and to find out if there was anything that could be done for her.
After examination, our vet informed us that she had THREE deformed legs - one of them just a little stump. Medically, there was nothing they could do for her. Normally, in a case like this, we would request our vet to euthanise to prevent suffering, but something about her made us decide to give her a chance. She had a fighting spirit and a strong will to LIVE!
When we collected her from our vet and took her out of the carrier, she rolled on her side, but after a few seconds, she managed to roll back on her tummy, determined to move.
A bumpy ride
For a couple of days, we took her on a harness for "walks", and two weeks after her arrival, she was ready to take her first steps on her own.
It was a bumpy ride. She lost her balance a number of times but always managed to get back on her feet.
After another two weeks, Dyna (short for Dynamite) was able to "run", even if it looked more like bunny hopping. We took her back to our vet, who could not believe the progress this plucky pup had made! They suggested physiotherapy and took it upon themselves to find us a physiotherapist who would assist us.
A love for life
To our joy, Ramsay Rehab Centre kindly offered six sessions free of charge, another miracle in little Dyna's life. After completion of her physio sessions, Animotion Prosthetics generously offered to make her a prosthetic leg, free of charge. Thank you so much to these amazing people and the vets for going the extra mile to help Dynamite.
Dyna is now five months old, and only time will tell what the future holds for her. But, right now, she is just a happy, playful little puppy who loves life. And I have decided to make her part of my own family!
