A heart-wrenching incident in Ficksburg has sparked calls for action after a mother dog, dubbed Nameless, was euthanised due to suspected rabies, while her five puppies also met a tragic end.
The NSPCA revealed that their efforts to save the dog and her puppies were hindered by the lack of response and inadequate resources from the State Veterinary Services.
Public Relations & Legal Liaison for the NSPCA, Jacques Peacock, condemned the situation. “With World Rabies Day approaching on 28 September, how can our State Veterinary Services operate without essential equipment and compassion for every single animal that crosses their desks?”
On Sunday, the NSPCA received a complaint about Nameless, a feral border collie cross who had been biting people in the area.
According to the organisation, she was found roaming the streets, clearly terrified and not feeding her puppies. Concerns quickly grew that she may be rabid, as her behaviour showed severe fear and aggression towards humans. Despite urgent calls to the Free State State Veterinary Services, the NSPCA claims that no assistance was offered due to a lack of necessary equipment such as dart guns.
The NSPCA stated that while the State Veterinarian remained absent, a Good Samaritan attempted to help Nameless and her litter. The Samaritan was bitten during the effort, though they managed to secure three of the puppies. Tragically, two were already dead by the time help arrived.
Later, Nameless carried her remaining puppies to a nearby property, where she attacked the property owner and her daughter. Despite efforts by the Bloemfontein SPCA to rescue her, Nameless escaped into a drainpipe.
“Late Monday, our consulting veterinarian and one of our inspectors travelled four hours to Ficksburg,” Peacock explained. “Nameless was found terrified, aggressively defending herself. It was decided to humanely euthanise her for her own safety and the protection of others.” Her remaining puppies, severely deteriorated, were also put down.
Nameless’ body was sent for rabies testing, and the Samaritan who intervened is currently receiving Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis as a precautionary measure.
“This is not an isolated incident,” Peacock stated. “This story highlights the neglectful manner in which our State Veterinarians often operate. World Rabies Day must be more than social media posts or a few vaccinations. A well-resourced and sustained government effort is crucial to ensure no animal suffers like Nameless.”
The NSPCA expressed their gratitude to the Good Samaritan and the Bloemfontein SPCA for their efforts, offering a heartfelt goodbye to Nameless, who they believe was failed by a broken system.
Compiled by Justine Fortuin
