September 23, 2005

PUPPY GETS SAVED FROM DROWNING IN BITUMEN

Late last night a building worker from New Belgrade called us and told that a puppy got under a cistern at the building site and got stuck in the bitumen which was leaking from the cistern.

We arrived without having a clear idea of the problem. The space under the cistern was very narrow and accessible only from one side, so our volunteers had merely enough space to drag an arm under.

The puppy was lying there, with its head turned towards us - and it was completely stuck in the bitumen puddle. It was completely immobile. Only the blinking of one eye revealed it was still alive - the other eye was submerged, together with half of its face and body - and was sinking deeper and deeper every minute.

"It was only then that I realized what bitumen is like", says our volunteer who dragged himself under the cistern, "sticky and fat like petrol; but when it hardens, it's like stone". I had to dig her out with my nails, but my hand was reaching only her ribs, and I couldn't possibly reach further. I was digging and crying at the same time, I had never felt that helpless. We had to shower her continuously with petroleum in order to pull her out".

Fortunately we noticed a rubber hose, also submerged in bitumen, under the rear part of her body. We found the other end of the hose and tied it to metal wires; four men were needed to pull the rubber hose out, together with an enormous mass of bitumen - and with the poor puppy.

The rescue action lasted almost four hours. At 3:30 AM we were so exhausted that we had no strength to enjoy our victory. The puppy, a black two month-old female, was also exhausted, and was also in shock, and apart of breathing and blinking, showed no other life signs. We took her immediately to the YBC Veterinary Ambulance for rehabilitation treatment. We washed her several times with petroleum, for it was the only way to dissolve the bitumen from her fur, even if only partially. Fortunately, apart of starvation and shock, the puppy showed no other health problems, and the vet predicted a quick recovery.

For the moment, Menka (a nick from "Bitumenka") is having a successful recovery at our volunteer's home, where she temporarily settled, and waiting to find a new home...

Help Menka!

If you want to send financial help for Menka in dinars. 180-0073590101000-34 (note: for Menka)

If you want to send financial help from abroad, please write an email to orcabeograd@yahoo.com for instructions.