25 March – An adult male Pitbull was confiscated earlier this afternoon after its owner made no effort to improve its living conditions and ignored the warnings issued by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. The dog was tied to a pole on a short static chain of inadequate length. The chain was entangled which restricted and impaired the dog’s natural movement. The issued warnings requested the owner to either place the dog on a running chain or allow the dog to roam freely.
Inspector Siwive Noko accompanied by Inspector Mark Syce with the support of the Bellville South Police Service (SAPS) arrived at the property earlier this afternoon. The situation escalated and became volatile with members of the community picking up bricks and stones to throw at the inspectors. Inspector Syce stepped forward and told those with bricks in their hands “anyone trying that will be arrested on the spot today”. The dog was loaded safely and transported to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in Grassy Park.
Inspector Mark Syce added “We give Owner’s a fair chance. We educate, but when this falls on deaf ears we have to do the necessary and remove the animal to stop their suffering.”
This followed after Inspector Siviwe Noko approached the Bellville Magistrates court for a court order to confiscate the dog. In his application, Noko told the court “In terms of my duties as an officer of the SPCA and our objects, especially to prevent the ill-treatment of animals, I may, where necessary, exercise the powers in terms of Section 8 read with section 5(1) of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 pertaining to the search, seizure and destruction, where necessary of animals. I verily believe that it is necessary for me to make use of the powers provided for by the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962.
The dog is unnecessarily chained which affords inadequate space. The dog is deprived of freedom of movement and to express normal behaviour. It is cruel and inhumane to unnecessary chain any animal in such a manner that affords inadequate space. I am of the reasonable view that this is an offence in terms of Section 2(1)(b) of the Animals Protection Act No 71 of 1962 and that the dog is suffering unnecessarily.
The owner has made no effort to improve the living conditions of the dog or to comply with the warnings issued. I am of the view that there is no other option but to confiscate the dog due to non-compliance. I am also of the opinion that the owner is deliberately chaining the dog unnecessarily and, in a manner, which is likely to cause the dog to suffer unnecessarily”
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA is pursuing charges of animal cruelty in terms of Section 2(1)(b) of the Animals Protection Act
