A South African rescue dog risked her life to defend her family’s home from intruders.
The Lamont family adopted a young cross Malinois named Kei last year from the Boksburg SPCA. They fell in love with her immediately after meeting her. Little did they know that she would be a rescue dog that would save their lives.
Two armed robbers broke in to the Lamont home at Lakefield, Benoni, South Africa in the early morning hours on October 3rd. They made their way upstairs, where the family was sleeping, to rob the Lamont home in Lakefield, Benoni, South Africa.
One robber entered the main bedroom, while the other went into the eldest daughter’s bedroom, gun in hand. He didn’t know that Kei was also on the bed watching over her best friend. The dog sensed danger right away and darted across a room before the criminal could enter the room.
Kei attacked him with great force. The intruder fled down the hall and ran down stairs, leaving behind a trail of blood.
But as he fled, he shot and killed the family’s Biewer Yorkie, Holly. The pup, as tiny as she was and her family’s life, risked her life to save her family.
Kei chased the man down the stairs, and eventually reached the kitchen where he pulled the trigger to shoot the dog in the head. The attack left the dog in shock and was unable to flee.
Kei knew she needed help and, despite her injuries, made her way to the gate to alert a neighbor she was good friends with. Surveillance footage shows her running up and down the gate trying to get the attention from the homeowners. However, she couldn’t bark because the bullet had shattered her jaw.
Kei tried everything, but to no avail, she ran down to the lake where she was familiar in an attempt to find help.
The Lamont family searched tirelessly for her, driving into the streets to search for her. They found Kei on the grass near the water forty minutes later. They called the Boksburg SPCA who arrived on the scene and assisted the family.
Kei was taken to an emergency vet where they stabilized her. They also gave her lots of morphine. Things didn’t look great for her then. Later that morning, she had to be X-rayed. The results showed that the bullet had entered her nose, shattered her top molars, severed her tongue, and had also broken her jaw.
On October 7, Kei underwent major jaw surgery. Doctors determined that the damage to her tongue is severe and that she will require further treatment. Her jawbone also contained more bullet fragments. She was discharged from the hospital a few days later and tube-fed.
Professor Steenkamp from the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic hospitals says that Kei will need a plate in both her jaw and a bone graph.
“This is a beautiful example of how an unwanted, cross breed, SPCA animal can go from ‘zero to hero,’” the Boksburg SPCA wrote on Facebook. “There are thousands of dogs just like Kei sitting in SPCAs around the country, waiting to be adopted. Look after your pets and we promise, they’ll look after you!”
Boksburg SPCA published an update on October 26 stating that Kei had been removed from tube feeding and could now eat soft food. After the prosthesis and titanium plate are complete, Kei will have a major operation in three weeks.
“Words cannot express how unbelievably grateful we are to all of you wonderful, kind hearted people out there,” the Lamonts said. “…We are so blessed and your acts of kindness have helped ease the trauma for us. THANK YOU to each and everyone of you for all you have done for our Kei and our family.”
The Lamont family has started a fundraiser to help pay for Kei’s surgeries, and they have decided to donate all the remaining funds to the Boksburg SPCA in honor of their beloved Holly, who is now in doggy heaven.
Here’s to hoping that Kei makes a full recovery soon so that she can go back to spending time with her family!
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