Mango the bush dog saved by Booth family, Southern Cross Northern Beaches Vets

A camp dog with a broken pelvis and heartworm has been saved by a Cairns family 1000km from their home. See the touching photos.

The Booth family was on a family holiday to Cape York three weeks ago when they found a camp dog dumped in bushland near Pajinka. The dog won the Booths over with his beautiful temperament, and the family bought him home to live with their other two camp dogs. Archie Booth, 6, Charlotte Booth, 3, and Pip Booth with their new dog Mango. Picture: Brendan Radke

A camp dog with a broken pelvis and heartworm has been saved by a Cairns family 1000km from their home.

The Cape York pup, named Mango, was found by a young Cairns family on a day trip from Loyalty Beach to Pajinka.

Pip Booth said her family wasn’t looking to pick up an extra passenger on their school holiday trip but there was something different about Mango.

“We’re very used to camp dogs. We’ve rehomed two since living in the bush and we know how they live, so they’re not something that usually pulls on our heartstrings,” Ms Booth said.

“But he was in a bad way and there was something different about him.”

The family initially drove past him, continuing to Pajinka, but kept a lookout for him on the way back.

“We told the kids if he was there, we’d give him a lift to town,” she said.

Ms Booth said despite everyone looking out for him on the way back, they almost missed him.

Archie Booth, 6, at home with his new dog Mango. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We couldn’t find him, then, at the last minute I noticed him lying down in the bushes on the side of the road, so we spun the car around,” she said.

“Usually with camp dogs, you whistle and they’ll jump in, but he barely lifted his head.
“So we went over to him and he couldn’t walk or anything, then we realised his leg was quite hurt. So I picked him up and he sat on my lap while we drove to town.”

Ms Booth and her husband Simon rang vets in Cairns to see if any could look after Mango at low or no cost.

“We were going to leave him if we couldn’t find someone because, with the cost of living and two dogs at home, plus the kids we just couldn’t afford it.”

Southern Cross Cairns Beaches veterinarian Sam Kovac with rescue dog Mango. Photo: Supplied.

That was when Southern Cross Cairns Beaches veterinarian Sam Kovac and his team stepped in.

“(Mango) was in pretty poor state when they brought him in,” Mr Kovac said.
“If the family weren’t so committed to him, he’d be ready for euthanasia, which was definitely an option, but he’s a young dog and has such a beautiful temperament, I couldn’t ethically do that to him.”

Through Mr Kovac’s charity Project HoPe, a not-for-profit organisation to help financially disadvantaged pet owners, Mango was able to receive lifesaving treatment at no cost to the family.

“We found Mango had a pelvic fracture and heartworm so we’ve put him on medication and he’s doing really well now,” he said.

Despite being confined to his crate while undergoing treatment, Ms Booth said Mango had already settled into the family.
“Our intention was to put him up for adoption but he’s stolen our hearts,” Ms Booth said.
“The night we brought him back, he slept on top of my husband’s swag, so he’s pretty much claimed us.”

Originally published as Mango the bush dog saved by Booth family, Southern Cross Northern Beaches Vets