SA SAVES SWISS DOG

A rescued dog stole the heart of South Africans so much so that even the government stepped in to save his life.

On 2 August, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) rescued a Swiss dad, his daughter and their Labrador Achi from rough seas off East London. Their yacht couldn’t be saved.

While the dad and his daughter could be housed and sorted out due to them having passports, Achi was a different story.

Achi is a registered guide dog, but his arrival was unplanned, and so he didn’t have any of the necessary papers or injections required by dogs entering South African borders.

Nahoon Bird & Animal Clinic took Achi in, but they had no proof to show that he could stay in the country.

Over the next three weeks, Achi was prepared for euthanasia three times. Every single time, another breakthrough gave him another chance.

And that’s when South Africa found out about Achi. The NSRI, Swiss Consulate and animal lovers got together, and more than 3,000 signed a petition.

The local ward councillor, as well as Agriculture Minister John Steeunhuisen, ordered tests to prove Achi was healthy enough to stay.

The Clinic paid for everything, and to ensure Achi was put in the required quarantine, the Clinic had to convince the owners of the other animals there, four dogs and three cats, to complete the quarantine there with Achi. They all agreed.

The test results came back, and Achi is healthy. As soon as the quarantine period is over, Achi can return to his family in Switzerland.

Image credit: Good Things Guy