GEORGE NEWS - A Denneoord family was left devastated after their German shepherd crossbreed was severely injured in a recent lawnmower accident, ultimately resulting in the amputation of one of its hind legs.
According to the owner, the incident occurred on Tuesday morning, 26 August, when the garden services arrived to mow the lawn.
The family's dogs were initially moved onto the stoep. The workers began mowing the front yard while the dogs were at the back near a second house.
"Suddenly, one of the dogs ran to the front. The next moment, my mother heard the lawnmower struggle and cut out, and then the dog crying," the owner said. "When she went to check, she found that the machine had badly injured my dog's leg."
The owner rushed the dog to the PDSA, where two operations were performed. Due to the extent of the injuries, the dog's right hind leg had to be amputated high up, as there was too much damage to it.
The risk was that the dog could develop a systemic infection. Amputation was, unfortunately, the safest option to ensure the dog's survival, given the extent of the injuries.
The vet treating the animal later remarked that the injuries appeared more consistent with the dog having been attacked with a lawnmower, rather than it being a simple accident.
The dog's owner says he contacted the gardening services' owner, who reportedly said dogs should be locked up during mowing, and "if one gets in the way of the machines or barks too much, they could unfortunately just get hurt."
According to the dog's owner, the worker who had operated the mower claimed that the dog had crawled in underneath the machine.
The gardening services could not be reached for comment.
Tips for dog owners
• Always secure pets properly, even if previous visits were incident-free. Pets can be unpredictable. Dogs should be safely confined in a secure area away from garden equipment before mowing or trimming begins.
• Communicate clearly with garden services and ensure workers know you have pets, and confirm together where the animals will be kept during the work.
• Double-check boundaries to ensure gates, doors, or barriers are secure so pets can’t slip out to where the machinery is operating.
Tips for garden services
• Garden services should treat pet safety as part of their professional responsibility. If pets are present, workers should request that they be secured before starting any machinery.
• If a dog manages to get into the work area, stop mowing or trimming until the animal is safely removed.
• Workers should be trained to handle situations where pets are present, to prevent accidents and to maintain trust with clients.
• Saying “dogs should just be locked up” shifts responsibility away from safety. A professional service should prioritise prevention and compassion.
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