Seriously injured dog found after frantic search across Mandurah

Monday, 24 July 2023 08:36

By Monique Welhan

Mala at Baldivis Vet Hospital. PIC: GoFundMe

A Mandurah family have thanked the local community for their support after a frantic two day search for their seriously injured dog.

Mala jumped off her owner's balcony in Erskine on Saturday morning, slicing the side of her body on a star picket before running off.

Her owner's daughter Tia put a post up on social media pleading for help to find the American Staffy cross who had suffered a large gash in the fall.

"Strangers, members of the community were volunteering to come out and help us find her...there was a good 100 plus people out trying to find her over the weekend," Tia told West Coast Radio.

Mala suffered a large gash to the side of her body after falling onto the star picket. PIC: Facebook

Tia's post was shared far and wide, with several local residents checking their CCTV footage and reporting any sightings.

"I genuinely don't think we could've done it without the support of these complete strangers," Tia said.

At about 5pm on Sunday, Mala was found hiding in a bush on Bridgewater Boulevard in Erskine.

"My brother actually found her...he heard cracking so he went and called for her and she managed to crawl her way out and just collapsed on him," Tia said.

The moment Mala was found. PIC: Supplied

Mala was rushed to Baldivis Vet Hospital where they had a surgical team on standby for her arrival.

Tia said she will require multiple surgeries with the vet advising the family her treatment will cost over $10,000.

"They're going to have to reopen the wound to keep clearing out the infection until it heals and then they'll stitch her up and hopefully she'll be able to come home soon after that."

A GoFundMe page has been created to help the family cover Mala's vet costs.

The family are planning on hosting a community barbeque for everyone that was involved in the search for Mala.

"We would love to show out gratitude and thanks to everyone who did help," Tia said.