I found this story in the Citizen last week (please don't ask why I was reading it) when I came across this wonderful story that was just too good to be true. The story has been given a great South African flavour but sadly it is a variation of one of the oldest urban legends ever - Snopes.com has a version dating back to 1946
A DEAD dog was at the centre of a huge rumpus last week which involved faction fights, police, ambulances, the local municipal disaster management service and the regional hospital.
It could only have happened in Zululand, and it’s no urban legend
The story began on Friday afternoon when a cow with a broken leg was found in a ditch at a rural settlement.
The suffering animal was mercifully killed and preparation was made by its owners for the community to feast on the meat.However, it was pointed out that the beast had been returning from the direction of the opposing faction when it landed in the ditch.
Fears were expressed that the other group may have poisoned the cow and deliberately set up the accident, knowing that the animal would end up on the plates of their enemy.Grey heads decided that a portion of the meat be given to a dog: if it survived, they could all feast to their hearts’ content.
The mongrel did indeed survive the night and Saturday saw the party proceed in full swing...until a child reported that the dog was dead.Panic set in, with the group of about 60 rushing for traditional herbs and swallowing water from a dirty stream to induce vomiting.KZN Ambulance Services were summoned and Ngwelezana Hospital was placed on standby.The municipal disaster truck was brought in and police reinforcements arrived to assist the on-duty members.
At some point in the chaos and fear, someone thought to ask where the dog was - no doubt, so that the type of poison used might be identified. Upon being called in for questioning, the same child said the dog was ‘still lying in the road where the vehicle struck it’!
The government official who passed the facts of story on to the Zululand Observer could not say whether the feast continued after the child’s revelation.
Be that as it may, we are sure our readers will feast on this true tale for many a year.
Dave Savides - Zululand Observer
I could not find the original story on the citizen website (great search function guys!), but I managed to find a google cached copy from the website of the Zululand Observer. IANAJ, but isn't there some kind of code of conduct against printing blatant untruths, even in a small regional paper. It took me less than 30 seconds to find out that the story was not true. At the very least the Citizen should have checked their facts before printing the story.
I am really disappointed that it is not a true story - the South African angle almost makes it believable, and it is by far the best version of the urban legend that I have read. It would make a really funny short film - someone should make it.