Written by Boksburg SPCA – Senior Inspector and Manager: Vicky Finnemore
Professional photography by Framed Media
On the 11th of May 2021, a man casually walked into the Boksburg SPCA and said he no longer wanted his dog. He plonked down a rusty old bucket and, curled up inside, was the most pitiful sight the Boksburg SPCA staff had seen in a very long time...
There, soaked in car oil, lay a small brown, skeletal figure of what appeared to be a dog. The little Dachshund cross lifted his head and looked around with huge eyes. When the animal’s owner was asked why the dog was in such poor condition, he replied that the dog had been sick. He signed a surrender form and went on his way.
The little body was carefully lifted out of the bucket and rushed to a local veterinarian for immediate treatment. The car oil was washed from the dog’s fur and he was quickly put on a drip as he was very dehydrated.
He captivated the hearts of thousands
Later that day, the story was posted on the Boksburg SPCA Facebook page. Within minutes, the phones started ringing and emails poured in. Facebook was on fire with the story of the little dog we’d named Oliver. The devastating photo of Oli looking up out of a bucket with his big brown eyes had captivated the hearts of thousands. Tears poured and donations started coming from all over the world for our sweet boy.
In the meantime, our Inspectorate decided to go and inspect the home where Oliver had previously lived. Another small Dachshund cross was found living there who the owner told us was Oliver’s brother. The animal wasn’t in bad condition, but we convinced the owner to surrender him over to the SPCA too. We named him Huckleberry. Within a few weeks, Huckleberry was rehomed to the most fantastic family. He’s now living his best life with an elderly couple in Boksburg.
Finding the will to live
Oliver spent a rough two weeks in hospital but somehow found the will to live. He was diagnosed with a digestion problem and, instead of his body absorbing the nutrients in his food, everything just went straight through him. The treatment was easy enough and included an enzyme supplement to be added to his daily food.
Within weeks, Oliver had made tremendous progress. His coat started to shine, he gained weight, and his confidence increased daily. He was a different dog. The donations and heartfelt messages continued to pour in for our Oli and, thanks to public support, we were able to bring him back to perfect health.
A contented dog
Almost two years later, Oliver continues to blossom at the Boksburg SPCA. He’s spoilt rotten by our staff and by all who come to visit him. Oliver’s favourite spot is on the front steps to our reception. He refuses to move out of anyone’s way and the public are expected to step over Oliver when entering the SPCA offices. He often searches for staff lunch packs, and when no one’s looking, he helps himself.
For now, Oli is quite content as an office dog at the Boksburg SPCA, but we do hope to find him a loving home one day.
AND...
LOOK WHO CAME TO VISIT OUR OLIVER RECENTLY.
None other than Oli’s long-lost brother, Huckleberry!
Huckleberry was due for his annual vaccination today and, my, what a surprise it was when he proudly strolled into our reception with his “dad”, Mr Dos Santos, at the other end of his leash.
Huckleberry is looking absolutely fabulous! He has a beautiful, silky, indoor coat and it’s quite evident he enjoys meal times as much as his brother, Oli. Let’s just say, he’s got the “dad bod” going on.
Oli and his bro posed for a few photos, did the whole bum sniffing thing, rubbed noses and then parted ways back to the lives they now find comfort in. Just brings tears to your eyes, doesn’t it
