Braveheart bonding with Wynand

On a cold winters morning in July of 2008, Wet Nose Animal Rescue Centre’s Inspector, Wynand le Roux, was busy with outreach work in Mamelodi, a township just east of Pretoria. He and a Kennel Staff Member called Picanne were finally on their way back to the shelter after a gruelling day of working with Mamelodi’s numerous pets, and teaching their owners how to take proper care of them.

They drove passed a filthy scrap yard and noticed a lot of dogs. Wynand’s decision to stop and take a look, changed the course of one very brave dog’s life forever. Lying under a rusted old trailer, they noticed a much traumatised looking dog. As Wynand and Picanne approached, the dog lifted his head and was about to run away. What they saw stopped them in their tracks, as they tried to comprehend what had happened to this poor boy!

They stared at him with horror as they realised that a “human” had taken a knife or a pair of scissors and had cut his ears off, and had thrown what they assumed to be boiling cooking oil all over him, probably in an attempt to get him off their property. He had raw burned patches all over his body and the wounds on his ears were full of scabs. This dog had been through unspeakable pain at the hands of a human with no compassion or conscience.

They fetched some dog food from their bakkie and gently tried to coax him closer. This was an animal that had absolutely no reason to ever trust a human again. His fear was obvious, but his hunger was strong! Little by little, he came closer as food was put down for him. After about 30 minutes he started to realise that these humans were different. Their patience had paid off and they eventually managed to get a lead around his neck. Wynand and Picanne slowly gained the dogs confidence and showed him that they were not there to hurt him.

Although not completely convinced, the dog allowed Wynand and Picanne to put him into the vehicle. He was brought into Wet Nose, where his long walk to trusting again, began. His rehabilitation would take months of physical healing as well as emotional healing. He was named Braveheart, which was so appropriate for this dog, as he was brave enough to trust that Wynand and Picanne were there to help him; even after the way he had been treated by humans.

Healing his wounds involved special creams on the burns and later oils all over his body to smooth and moisten the skin, in the hope that his hair may grow back one day and cover the unsightly scars. His physical healing however, proved to be the easy part of the rehabilitation process.

Getting Braveheart to trust again was a slow and difficult process…. But who could blame him? Wynand soon became his best friend and the only person he trusted for quite some time. He was miserable in the beginning and just lay in his kennel. He would not even look up if anyone besides Wynand went to talk to him.

As time went by, Braveheart slowly started to let more people into his “Circle of Trust”. He realised that he was being given a second chance in life and decided to make lots of friends. The Wet Nose staff refused to give up on him and he thought it best not to give up on himself either. His tail started to wag, his eyes started to shine, and his awesome personality started to emerge. Braveheart started to love!

Today Braveheart is a bright shining star who gets to go out on very important missions. His purpose in life has become education. He goes to schools and to events and teaches people about animal abuse and what to do if they come across animal abuse. He is an ambassador of note and a fine example to us humans. Who other than a dog, could go through such horrific experiences and bounce back (without a chip on his shoulder), to become a wonderful, friendly ambassador who helps fight abuse?
BRAVEHEART, YOU HAVE TAUGHT US SO MUCH, YOU ARE OUR HERO!

Braveheart – fully rehabilitated and FULL of life!