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DURBAN (South
Africa) — Gene Hackman had it easy. At least he had
opposable thumbs.
But for a wounded dog left aboard a burning
ship full of explosive, hazardous materials, there's a real challenge. On
Sep. 5, the Italian vessel, Jolly Rubino, containing an unknown
quantity of Class 3 hazardous material, ran aground off Cape St. Lucia in
60mph winds. Her entire crew of 22 was evacuated by helicopter on
Sep. 10 after unsuccessfully battling fires in the engine room which later
spread throughout the ship. Reportedly, the ship's dog was lost in
the confusion. For the next four days, numerous
explosions were sighted on the abandoned ship, which was carrying some 1,100
tons of fuel oil, 225 tons of gas oil as well as the Class 3 hazardous
cargo.
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The only thing worse than being trapped on a burning ship is being
trapped with Wags.
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on Sep. 13, cleanup teams from the Smit
Salvage Company boarded the 190.5m hulk and were astounded to find
a 4-year-old (approx.) Sheepdog mutt alive in the smoke-filled
compartments. Despite temperatures as high as 400ºF in
parts of the ship, the pooch managed to survive alone at
sea. Smit crews had her airlifted off the vessel and
taken to veterinarian Dr. Pierre Singery at Richards Bay.
Dr. Singery says it was a miracle she had not suffocated from
the smoke. "I did not expect her lungs to be this
clear," he told News24.
"She did, however, have a few ugly burns to her front and
back paws."
He also said that they did not know the dog's original name,
but thought, as she had been rescued off an Italian freighter,
"we just called her Bella [Beautiful]."
Bad hair day. Really bad hair day.
Bella's fur is supposed to be "snow white". Dr.
Singery spent Sunday afternoon washing the oil and diesel from her
body. (Photo: News24)
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Better late than never.
Bella was eventually air-lifted off the freighter Jolly Rubino on
Sep. 13, having been left alone for four days. (Photo: News24)
Meanwhile, oil booms have been used to prevent the coastal area near St.
Lucia in KwaZulu/Natal from being polluted with contaminants leaking out
of the derelict ship. A monitoring aircraft reported yesterday that
the oil slick was breaking up about 1.6km south of the ship.
"At the moment the problem is contained. There is very little, if
any, oil coming ashore," said Jeff Gaisford, KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife
spokesperson.
Bella is making good progress and is expected to be transferred to the
care of the Richards
Bay SPCA. The SPCA is making efforts to reunite her with her
family in Italy.
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