Recently, Accra has seen three buildings collapse. From Accra Newton in March, through to Madina Adenta earlier this month and just this Sunday, Avenor.
Seven lives have perished with several injured. When the two-storey building collapsed at the Adenta New Site, one unusual thing happened. Officials at the scene revealed that a family pet was rescued under the rubble.
The Head of the Public Relations Unit of the Ghana National Fire Service, DO II Desmond Ackah, made the revelation when he gave an update on TV3 New Day after the incident.
“We were able to save four victims, and currently they are receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital. Unfortunately, we lost one female. In the course of our search and rescue operations, we succeeded in also rescuing their pet, which happens to be a dog, from under the rubble.”
The news team then visited the affected family and the dog was identified as “No Friend.”
For over five years, the dog has been a familiar presence in the household, serving both as a pet and a guard dog.
However, according to a family member and survivor, Frank Dziba, the incident has changed it.
Frank, who was himself rescued from beneath the rubble, said “No Friend” was known for being aggressive and protective but since the incident, the dog has become unusually calm and withdrawn.
“When the building collapsed, we were more focused on the human beings. In the process before we remembered that the dog was also trapped. So, they rescued that dog where one of my cousins was. So, we even thought it might die but we realised it had one arm broken.”
Like the others caught up in the disaster, “No Friend” did not emerge unharmed.
The dog sustained injuries during the collapse. Frank explained that its care is now a secondary issue, as they battle the loss of a loved one and the destruction left behind.
“I have not gotten time to examine it because of the broken arm; it doesn’t allow anyone to come closer. I am the only relative left with my siblings around so we are focused on our things. I think the dog issue will be a secondary matter later. We also care about the dog, definitely when we get a place to stay the dog will go with us. It is a dog we love so much.”
Dr Elton Brown Damoah, a Veterinary Doctor added that traumatic events usually impact pets the same way it impacts humans.
He said, “Usually it causes long-lasting psychological, emotional, physical distress similar in humans and same in animals. What happens after such an event? There are chronic fear and anxiety disorders. And also, there are symptoms which look like PTSD in humans too. That’s the post-traumatic stress disorder.”
He further explained that such events affect their behaviours as well.
“So initially, if the dog used to be very wild. It might look calm, reserved and all that and there are times too, because of such events, you see a dog usually starts to shake. It starts to be running around. We really need to consider the mental status of our pets. These are vulnerable animals that we need to protect them in a situation like this.”
As the family mourn their loss and pieces together what remains, “No Friend’s” quiet presence serves as a reminder that the impact of disaster is often felt far beyond the lives counted in official reports.
By Samuel Yeboah Adams
