Bokkie’s Fight for Life After Snake Bite, Dog Attack, and Being Left in a Drain
On Sunday, March 30, a small dog named Bokkie from Bruce Street in Borcherds went out searching for food — and found herself in a nightmare.
During her desperate search, Bokkie was bitten by a snake and then attacked by two large dogs. Instead of helping her, unknown individuals threw the injured pup into a nearby stormwater drainpipe — while it was raining.
By sheer luck, a local man known for protecting animals heard what happened and began searching. The next day, he found Bokkie barely alive in the drain and pulled her to safety.
He immediately called Marileen Greeff from Borcherds Paws, who rushed Bokkie to the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in Conville.
“She was basically dead when we found her,” Greeff said. “Her body temperature was so low, the vet couldn’t even get a reading.”
PDSA staff worked tirelessly, using a hairdryer and a heated IV drip to slowly warm her fragile body. Against all odds, Bokkie began to respond. She’s now recovering under the constant care of the veterinary team.
“I had to skip feeding the dogs in Bruce Street because I simply didn’t have enough food,” Greeff said softly. “If I had more, Bokkie might never have gone out scavenging — and she could’ve avoided all of this.”