Thursday, January 23, 2014

South Africa: Owner who neglected skeletal horses gets probation

SOUTH AFRICA -- Senior inspector Kay Engelbrecht of the Roodepoort SPCA sent the Record some updates on a few pending cases of animal cruelty on Monday 20 January.

Five thoroughbred horses were confiscated on 29 November 2013 from a plot on Pierre Road in Ruimsig owing to negligence after complaints had been received in September.

The owner of the property had nine thoroughbreds, none of which ever had been inspected by a vet, equine dentist or farrier.

At a hearing at the National Stud Association in Turffontein on 15 January the owner was fined R5 000 for the ill treatment of animals.

“A charge of animal cruelty has been opened,” said Engelbrecht.


“Follow-up inspections at the property will ensue, since there are still three horses that we didn’t have grounds on which to confiscate them in November.”

Engelbrecht also was called out to an address in Allen’s Nek on Friday 17 January regarding dogs that were confined to small spaces. She was told that the dogs were kept in a 1m by 1m kennel of which the opening is closed with mesh, with a tree branch securing it.

“It turned out that one of the dogs were adopted from the Boksburg SPCA approximately 18 months ago.

“Upon my arrival I found that the dog was tied to a tree in the garden with a 1.5m rope leash.”

Engelbrecht received photos from the complainant that proved the initial allegation.

Although Engelbrecht could not say what would happen to the Yorkshire Terrier that was confined, she said that the situation goes to show that inspections are necessary.

“This proves that post-adoption inspections are necessary to ensure that the animals are in a safe and caring environment.”

(Roodepoort Record - Jan 22, 2014)