Written by Vicky Finnemore - Senior Inspector / Manager Benoni SPCA
Professional photography by Kritzography (https://www.facebook.com/Kritzography/)
Train conductor Athol Badenhorst was horrified when he spotted a white-and-tan dog tied to the railway tracks near Daveyton, Gauteng, on the morning of the 16th of May 2018. He brought the train to a screeching halt, stopping all train activity on the line, and contacted the SPCA Benoni.
Saved from death’s door
The German Shepherd-mix dog was in poor condition; he was thin and filthy, with scars, pressure sores and parasites. He clearly wasn’t a youngster and his drooping head spoke of a broken spirit and a long, hard life.
He must have been tied up during the previous night by someone hoping that a speeding train would hit him and end his life. No doubt, he was no longer of use to his owners and this was their “solution”.
SPCA Benoni field officer Ephraim Madam rushed to the scene; he released the sad-eyed dog from the fraying orange rope that was tightly wound around his neck and took him to the SPCA kennels in Lakefield, Benoni.
A second chance
We named him Max and were determined that this gentle boy would get a second chance at the happy life he deserved. First up was a veterinary consultation where he was treated for his wounds and skin condition. He then hungrily gobbled down a bowl of food and settled in. Soon, it was time for a lovely bath and, although he didn’t look too keen, he tolerated it well, enjoying all the attention from his “attendants”, and seemed to feel much better afterwards.
Perhaps best of all, he quickly warmed to people, trusting that we meant him no harm. Initially hesitant, he soon started wagging his tail and accepting cuddles, showing that he actually liked human company.
The day after his rescue, the man who’d saved his life popped in to visit; Athol, an animal lover, and his wife were happy to see Max doing well.
Max’s new life
Max was with the SPCA Benoni for around three weeks, during which time our staff – particularly Jeneanne Howroyd and Thulani Ncube – treated him to plenty of walks and gave him lots of love; he flourished with all the attention. Soon, it was time for Max to find a home.
Ashley Bannister had seen Max on Facebook and, without hesitation, decided that he belonged in their home. On the 2nd of June 2018, Max joined the Bannister family and we couldn’t be happier. We wish Max the happiest and healthiest of days and know that he’ll enjoy basking in the sun with his new family.
Watch Max, loving life https://www.facebook.com/SPCABenoni/videos/2271538906197339/
HAPPY DANCE
By Ashley Bannister, Max’s new owner
I saw a post on Benoni SPCA’s Facebook page of an oldish dog called Max who’d been rescued after being left tied to a railway line. Obviously, this poor dog had been tied up and left there to be run over by a passing train. This post and the behaviour of some people left me fuming, angry that humans could treat an animal in such a despicable way.
Making the difference
Immediately after reading the article and seeing his pictures, I enquired whether it was possible for me to take him in. You could see in the pictures that he was getting on in life and had been cruelly treated, and I wanted to show him that he could trust some humans; I wanted him to enjoy his last years being loved and taken care of.
I hoped to somehow make up for all the hardship he’d been through by giving him a comfortable and loving home and environment.
Determined to take him in
Max had to stay at the SPCA for treatment and rehabilitation before he could be adopted. In the meantime, my partner and our two young girls went to visit him – and we were shocked at just how badly he’d been treated or neglected.
Aside from his skin, he had an eye problem, one of his ears appears to have been partially cut off and the other ear is torn – to name just a few of the issues.
Nevertheless, this only made me more determined to take this boy in and give him a new chance at life. My partner and the girls obviously supported me, so it was a done deal to take Max into our home and try to give him a new life.
Life with Max
Max moved in on the 2nd of June 2018 and has settled in well; he eats all his food and has integrated nicely with our dogs. He obviously has some fears and confidence issues but I firmly believe that, with time and some loving care, he will get his confidence back and regain his trust in humans.
With each day, he gets more of a wag in his tail and even does a clumsy happy dance every time I come home or spend some time with him socialising.
I’m sure that in the future he will touch our family’s lives and inspire us way more than we inspire him. Max is a survivor and we look forward to spending a good few more years with him as he gracefully grows older.
