South Africans have been expressing their gratitude to the agriculture minister for stepping in to stop a guide dog from being euthanised after it was saved from a yacht abandoned in rough seas.
“We are overly grateful,” Craig Lambinon – from the volunteer team that rescued a Swiss man, his German daughter and their chocolate Labrador off the Eastern Cape three weeks ago – told the BBC.
As Achi’s owners awaited their repatriation, the authorities ruled the dog had to be put down as it was in the country illegally and presented a “bio-security risk”.
But following an outcry this week and a petition to save Achi’s life, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced a last-minute U-turn.
“We know that Achi is in good hands and healthy and well,” Mr Lambinon from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said.
The registered guide dog remains in the care of Dr Peter Wood at the privately owned Nahoon Veterinary Clinic in East London, where he was put in quarantine following his rescue by the NSRI on 2 August.
The 16m (52ft) yacht was unable to be saved and has been lost at sea.
Joylene van Wyk, spokesperson for the agriculture department, told the BBC that Achi would be now be moved to a state facility in Cape Town and would be kept in quarantine “until all necessary tests are done”.
She said this would also allow Dr Wood to reopen his practice after it was forced into quarantine while Achi’s future was being decided.
It is not clear how long the tests will take, but once Achi gets the all clear “he can be reunited with his family”, Ms Van Wyk said.
Her department and the NSRI were also full of praise for Dr Wood for looking after Achi. Members of the people have been donating money to help pay for his care.
