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12 July 2024
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Hero rescue dog bitten by puff adder while protecting human friend
After a little more than two months, Roxy, the spirited three-year-old rescue dog from Kabeljauws in Jeffreys Bay, has bounced back to her playful, energetic self after a harrowing encounter with an “angry” puff adder on 1 May 2024.
Remarkably, she survived not just one but two venomous bites while bravely protecting her human friend.
“She saved my life”
The tale unfolded with an urgent call from loyal and dog-loving gardener Bernard Maphenchane to Tania Alberts, the owner of Roxy. Roxy, the cherished four-legged friend and slumber buddy of Albert’s daughter, Zania, had fallen victim to a snake’s bite.“Maphenchane was working in the garden, with Roxy following him like a shadow, her curious self, when she suddenly started barking,” said Alberts.
“Maphenchane initially thought it was a tortoise, a frequent visitor to the garden. But as he cleared away some of the leaves and heard a terrible hiss, he realised this was no tortoise.”
In the undergrowth lay an “angry” puff adder ready to strike. Not pleased with the disturbance, the snake turned its ire towards Maphenchane. Yet Roxy, ever the heroine, fearlessly put herself in danger’s way and lunged at the large puff adder without hesitation.
The puff adder, in its fury, bit Roxy twice, once on the head and once on the cheek.
Maphenchane quickly contacted Alberts, who was in St Francis Bay at the time and sent a photo capturing the horrifying scene: Roxy, bloodied and bare conscious, whimpering on the cold bricks.
Alberts recounted, "I quickly reached out to friends to rush Roxy to the animal hospital and also contacted Kouga Fire and Disaster Management to handle the puff adder.
"When I returned home, Roxy was already at the animal hospital, while firefighters and experienced snake catchers, Ashleigh Makoba and Marichae Potgieter, safely relocated the puff adder to an open field."
According to Alberts, after a few doses of antivenom and one day at the animal hospital, Roxy returned home to recover from the ordeal fully. “It took two long weeks for the swelling to finally subside. During this time, Roxy’s usual vivacity was replaced by a period of much-needed rest and recuperation,” said Alberts.
Not all heroes wear capes; some have wagged tails and a penchant for getting into trouble.
Source: Kouga Municipality
Remarkably, she survived not just one but two venomous bites while bravely protecting her human friend.
“She saved my life”
The tale unfolded with an urgent call from loyal and dog-loving gardener Bernard Maphenchane to Tania Alberts, the owner of Roxy. Roxy, the cherished four-legged friend and slumber buddy of Albert’s daughter, Zania, had fallen victim to a snake’s bite.“Maphenchane was working in the garden, with Roxy following him like a shadow, her curious self, when she suddenly started barking,” said Alberts.
“Maphenchane initially thought it was a tortoise, a frequent visitor to the garden. But as he cleared away some of the leaves and heard a terrible hiss, he realised this was no tortoise.”
In the undergrowth lay an “angry” puff adder ready to strike. Not pleased with the disturbance, the snake turned its ire towards Maphenchane. Yet Roxy, ever the heroine, fearlessly put herself in danger’s way and lunged at the large puff adder without hesitation.
The puff adder, in its fury, bit Roxy twice, once on the head and once on the cheek.
Maphenchane quickly contacted Alberts, who was in St Francis Bay at the time and sent a photo capturing the horrifying scene: Roxy, bloodied and bare conscious, whimpering on the cold bricks.
Alberts recounted, "I quickly reached out to friends to rush Roxy to the animal hospital and also contacted Kouga Fire and Disaster Management to handle the puff adder.
"When I returned home, Roxy was already at the animal hospital, while firefighters and experienced snake catchers, Ashleigh Makoba and Marichae Potgieter, safely relocated the puff adder to an open field."
According to Alberts, after a few doses of antivenom and one day at the animal hospital, Roxy returned home to recover from the ordeal fully. “It took two long weeks for the swelling to finally subside. During this time, Roxy’s usual vivacity was replaced by a period of much-needed rest and recuperation,” said Alberts.
Not all heroes wear capes; some have wagged tails and a penchant for getting into trouble.
Source: Kouga Municipality