Animals at Bokkie Park have food, SPCA will continue to monitor situation

The Boksburg SPCA said they have been working closely with the Bokkie Park management and private veterinarians tendered to treat animals following concerns about the state of the facility and welfare of the animals.

After an inspection, Boksburg SPCA issued the Ekurhuleni metro with a written warning to rectify several welfare concerns found at the Bokkie Park.

Local SPCA manager Vicky Finnemore said the society spent three hours at the park on July 10, inspecting the animals and afterwards met with management of the Ekurhuleni Parks Department.

According to a statement issued by the SPCA on Facebook, to date Bokkie Park management has complied with the warning and has included the Boksburg SPCA in on veterinary consultations of the animals requiring treatment.

The veterinarian, who postponed Monday’s (June 13) appointment with the society at the Bokkie Park due to a break-in at his practice, examined the animals on Wednesday (June 15).

“Yesterday, our inspectorate was present at the Bokkie Park while two veterinarians sterilised several pigs. We’ve been assured that more animals will be sterilised in batches over the next few weeks,” the statement reads.

The underweight cow that raised tremendous concern within the community has been assessed.

“A faecal sample has been taken for testing and she will be treated accordingly by the vet. We will monitor her condition throughout July and August. We can confirm the animals at the Bokkie Park have feed and this too will be monitored,” the statement continued.

The society thanked the public for their patience and support and ask that anyone with new concerns regarding the Bokkie Park to send an email to manager@boksburgspca.co.za.

The Advertiser previously reported community concerns which included alleged animal theft, lack of security and the general well-being of the animals.

A concerned resident also posted a photo of the starving animals at the park on Facebook and wrote: “I’m truly horrified to see what has become of these animals that offered us so much joy.”

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Another community member, Kelly Robinson, accused Ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos of spreading the photo on a Parkrand WhatsApp group.

“This photo caused a lot of distress for people and upset all the people that have been helping since March to donate, collect and deliver food.

“I was informed the photo was posted by the ward councillor, saying he had his finger on the pulse. I would like to know when he became involved. “There are challenges at the Bokkie Park but food has been one problem that we’re able to help with,” Kelly said.

The ward councillor defended himself by saying the photos was circulating on social media before he took pictures at the Bokkie Park “My pictures are different,” de Vos explained.

“I care about the animals and there are certainly issues at the Bokkie Park that needs to be attended to. I visited the park on July 10 and found two cows that were in a terrible state. They looked better when I visited the park again on Monday after community member fed them.”

He said there is no record of how many animals there are at the Bokkie Park nor their diets.

“There are also complaints that animals, especially sheep, are being sold but nobody is willing to make a statement. I hope they follow the advice of the SPCA because I want the issues resolved as soon as possible.

“The metro failed to respond to the Advertiser’s emails, phone calls and WhatsApp messages at the time of publication.

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