News24 | ‘I don’t want my dog anymore’: Bella, once covered in ticks, now healthy after rescue

Bella the dog was once covered in ticks but is now healthy after proper treatment and care.

• “I don’t want my dog anymore. Come fetch it.” These were the words of its owner who handed the neglected Bella to the Boksburg SPCA.
• A chewable tick prevention tablet worked overnight, and Bella was found free of severe parasitic diseases after blood work.
• Regular tick prevention, deworming, and vaccinations are encouraged for a dog’s health, and are easy to administer.

*WARNING: Some of the images are graphic and may upset sensitive readers. 

A harrowing tale for Bella, who was once severely neglected and covered in ticks, has ended with love and care after she was handed over to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

Her former owner called the Boksburg SPCA on 5 September, saying: “I don’t want my dog anymore. Come fetch it.”

Bella was found in Vosloorus last Friday. She arrived at the SPCA in terrible condition, her body covered in ticks from head to tail and weakened by neglect.

Her fate seemed uncertain. On her arrival, one of the inspectors hesitated, asking: “Should we try to save her?”

That was when Bella lifted her head and licked SPCA manager Vicky Finnemore’s hand – a simple gesture that gave the team all the motivation they needed to give Bella a second chance.

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Ralph Chivaviro, one of the SPCA inspectors present, said it was one of the worst infestations he had seen.

“For her to accumulate so many ticks took a long time. To put it into perspective, this person looked at her condition daily, weekly, and monthly and did not help her,” Chivaviro added.

Finnemore said that they gave Bella Bravecto, a chewable tablet for dogs, used to treat and prevent fleas, ticks, and mites in pets, and the next morning, all the ticks had fallen off and died.

“It was nothing short of a miracle; every tick was gone. That is when we knew we’ve got to carry on, we will see it through.”

They then took Bella to the North Rand Road Animal Hospital for examination. There, veterinarian Dr Chrystel Conradie performed a blood smear to determine if she had a babesia or ehrlichia infection, which are both transmitted by ticks and cause tick bite fever.

“Given the large number of ticks she had, I expected to see at least one of these diseases, but to my surprise, her blood smear was negative for both,” Conradie said.

Finnemore said Bella was now clean, comfortable, and healing at the Boksburg SPCA. Her wounds were being treated, her skin soothed, and her spirits slowly restored.

When asked what you could do to ensure your dog remained parasite-free, Conradie said: “Regular tick and flea treatments are needed to keep an animal healthy and free from parasites. Unfortunately, there are no vaccines available for babesia and ehrlichia, and that is why it is so essential to administer a long-acting product to prevent tick bites.”

“Dipping your dog once a month does not protect against ticks and fleas.”

She added that various products, such as Nexguard tablets, Frontline, or Fiprotec, were available. These treatments last one to four months.

“Bravecto is a long-lasting product with a spot-on or tablet option,” Conradie said.

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“Deworming is needed at least twice yearly to prevent internal worm infestations. Few people know that fleas are the intermediate host of tapeworm infections, so these treatments go hand in hand.”

She added that annual vaccinations of adult dogs were crucial to preventing fatal diseases like parvovirus, distemper and hepatitis.

“Puppies need vaccines from six weeks old and must get three vaccines, one month apart, to boost their immunity,” Conradie said.

The SPCA encouraged potential pet owners to visit their local facilities and walk through the kennels to see the many animals waiting for adoption, emphasising that adopted pets made great companions.

According to Finnemore, the organisation carefully screened all applications to ensure proper matches between pets and families, creating the best opportunity for successful long-term relationships.

However, the SPCA stressed that pet ownership required responsibility and financial commitment and clarified that they only rehomed animals as cherished family companions and not as guard dogs or for security purposes.

“If you adopt an animal, you must look after it properly. You can buy products to make your dog comfortable and healthy,” Finnemore added.

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