From a very young age, the dog from South Africa that we will see next lived chained to the frog. It was impossible for the animal to free itself from the heavy metal chain that was around its neck. Despite this, the dog tried so hard to escape… it tried so many times that the chain rolled up and ended up being half its original size.

But the dog’s ordeal was about to come to an end… In late April, Carol Copradie, a volunteer with  Tip Cap Tow , a local animal rescue group, was alerted to the trapped animal. She was delivering first aid to dogs and people in Blikkiesdorp, Cape Town, when someone heard the animal’s story. Without hesitation, she rushed to the rescue!

Bitch chained and slaughtered by the doctor

Some of the poorest people in South Africa live in Blikkiesdorp. The locals live in small shacks made of iron sheets, pieces of wood and old wood. Furthermore, most of them lack basic amenities such as toilets and sinks.

When Copadie went to the animal’s shelter, she discovered that the dog’s owner had run away two months earlier, when some members of a gang had threatened to kill him. The owner had chained the dog, perhaps hoping to get back to her. But he never returned, and the neighbors tried to take care of her because of the man’s kindness. They pushed bowls of food and water through the narrow opening to where she lay, but they could not get the animal’s leash off. When Copradie looked through the opening, he saw the animal trembling in a pool.

“She was as far away as she could be,” Copradie said. “I tried to pet her head, and I put out food to see if we could entice her, but she wouldn’t come.” Copradie talked to the dog in a quiet voice for several minutes, and then she managed to come closer.

Copradie gave the dog Chatel’s name, and found her to be very friendly and affectionate. “She just crawled right into my lap,” Copradie said. “She was putting her head inside my coat and trying to put her head under my arm.”

Chatel is released from the chains

Chatel’s friendly manner would make the rescue easier, but there was still the problem of the chain. The woman had tried to saw through the metal with a saw, but she could not. Unfortunately, one of the neighbors decided to go to the other side of the road to find a man who had an angle grinder that could cut steel. While Copadie was waiting for the grinder, she petted Chatel and put the chain around her neck. By this time, she had finally figured out how to get it off. “And I was able to push the padlock all the way up to the top of her jaw, and the chain kind of just slid over one of her ears,” Coradie said. “After that, I was able to get it over her head.”

Chatel was so relieved to be released. “She was so friendly and I was so happy to be out,” Coradie said. “She would snuggle her head up against my neck and just whip my leg.” The woman and the other volunteers at  Tip Caw Town  took Chatel to the vet for a checkup, and had her spayed and vaccinated. Although it was a horrible experience for the animal to be chained up for so long, Chatel was in good health.

Animal is adopted

After being treated, the dog was taken to a new home. The neighbors who had been feeding her asked to adopt her. They already had other dogs, who seemed well fed and cared for, and promised to take care of Chatel in the same way. Although some people questioned  Tiá Cap Towá ‘s decision  to give the animal to the neighbors, the team explained that they always look for the best solutions for the animals and the people in the community.

“Please be assured that we will evaluate each animal’s situation on a case-by-case basis and if we suspect any unfairness, or gross neglect, in that home, we will take the animal back,” a spokesperson said. “If people care and just need help and education, then we will work with them to improve the animal’s living conditions.”

Fortunately, in Chatel’s case, the two people knew exactly how to take care of her. Now she is free and can run and play with her brothers and sisters! The two were the neighbors who reported her and gave her a new chance at life, so they will certainly take good care of her.