A penguin, that mysteriously ended up in the Masiphumelele informal settlement was rescued on Friday 11 March, after suffering superficial wounds in a dog attack.
In a statement, Tears Animal Rescue, said they received a call from a woman who rescued a penguin from dogs in Masiphumelele.
“This morning Tears Animal Rescue’s Operations Manager Mandy Store received a phone call from a lady who had just rescued a penguin from dogs in the Masiphumelele township.
“Mandy headed straight over to Masi to go and collect the penguin which had been attacked by the woman’s two dogs. She picked the penguin up to get him from the dogs in a state of shock, not knowing how a penguin had got into her yard.”
The penguin was later taken to Fourways Vet clinic where Dr Patti Foster examined it for injuries and later naming him Petey.
“Tears collected Petey from Fourways vet and rushed him to Sanccob (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) where Petey was further checked out and assessed.
“Petey had superficial wounds on his legs from the dog attacks and he was slightly under weight but nothing too concerning,” the statement read.
Meanwhile the Caring Company has commended one of its staff members for rescuing the penguin.
“Caring comes in all shapes and sizes, we like to think we’ve seen and done it all. But yesterday was a first when one of our carers rescued a very lost penguin being attacked by dogs in Masiphumelele.
“Michell rescued the poor little tyke and took it back to her yard while we rang round to get help.”
The clinical vet at Sanccob determined that Petey was away from his colony for two or more days and that he was generally healthy and not emaciated.
“Both Tears Animal Rescue and Sanccob condemn the action of removing this wild animal from its colony.
“It is extremely worrying that a penguin has been recovered in Masi, and an investigation is needed,” the statement further reads.
The penguin will remain at Sanccob for at least a month to recover.
“He is currently in the intensive care unit and will move over to their rehabilitation centre as soon as they are happy with his progress.”
