A Shocking Call
On the 16th of December 2021, our control room received a call from a near hysterical individual who was witnessing a puppy being severely beaten. It was a troubling call and not one anyone wants to receive on a day like the Day of Reconciliation. Our on duty Inspector, Werner Taljaard rushed to the scene and what he witnessed, actually restored his faith in humanity.
An Alarming and Then Encouraging Scene
Members of the public had positioned themselves loosely around the individual they had seen beating the puppy. They knew help was on the way and they were doing what they could to ensure she wouldn’t get far if she attempted to walk away before our Inspector got to the scene. Inspector Taljaard noted a woman holding a small Pitbull puppy who was notably traumatised and shaking. The eye-witness account of the beating the puppy had just received was heart-breaking. According to 3 witnesses, the woman had grabbed the puppy behind the neck and thrown her onto the tar road numerous times. As if that wasn’t enough she had also hit the puppy in the face at least 20 times.
The Rescue
Inspector Taljaard exercised his powers in terms of the Animals Protection Act No. 71 of 1962, confiscated the puppy and had the suspect, who remains in custody at the Landsdowne police station, arrested. A case of animal cruelty was opened with the following charges:
- OFFENCES IN RESPECT OF ANIMALS –
(1) Any person who:
(a )overloads, overdrives, overrides, ill-treats, neglects, infuriates, tortures or maims or cruelly beats, kicks, goads or terrifies any animal; or
(q) causes, procures or assists in the commission or omission of any of the aforesaid acts or, being the owner of any animal, permits the commission or omission of any such act; or
(r) by wantonly or unreasonably or negligently doing or omitting to do any act or causing or procuring the commission or omission of any act, causes any unnecessary suffering to any animal;
The Possible Penalties
Should a person be found guilty of an offence in terms of the charges above, they are liable to a fine of up to R40,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months with an criminal record.
Thank You
Our heartfelt thanks go to the witnesses of this terrible act of cruelty animal cruelty, without whom this crime may well have gone unpunished. We urge everyone to please not look the other way. Cruelty reports can be made in strict confidence by email inspectorate@spca-ct.co.za or telephonically by calling 0217004158/9 during office hours. You can also report cruelty online via our website at https://capespca.co.za/report-cruelty/ or by calling the after-hour number 083 326 1604.
References
Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962. n.d. Available: https://www.gov.za/documents/animals-protection-act-22-jun-1963-0000
