SPCA fights animal cruelty and neglect
There is a lot of animal cruelty taking place of which the community is unaware.
Animal cruelty does not only involve injuring or harming an animal, it also involves negligence, such as poor shelter or depriving an animal of water. The Brakpan SPCA deals with such incidents on a daily basis.
Last week an abused dog was left in the after-hours kennels at the society. The dog, which was full of bruises, had holes in its flesh and a rope tightly around its neck, had to be euthanised to end its suffering.
In the same week, a small miniature pinscher died trying to give birth to babies as big as herself.
The puppies’ father was much larger than her, leaving her in indescribable pain during the birth. Pain that could have been prevented if she was sterilised.
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According to Tamaryn Lombard (33), manager at the Brakpan SPCA, there is a lot of animal cruelty taking place of which the community is unaware.
“I believe one of the main reasons for animal cruelty is that people are uneducated,” she said.
Lombard believes having animals is a privilege not a right; therefore, it is a pet owner’s duty to try and give them the best possible care.
As an owner of a pet, there is a basic list of animal husbandry points you are supposed to do: give your pet fresh water every day, make sure they have clean blankets, regularly check if their nails aren’t too long and that they have shelter during the day and night.
People abuse their pets because of ignorance, poverty and a lack of time.
“We need the community’s help to keep an eye open for animal cruelty and report any suspicion thereof,” said Lombard.
You could be living next door to an animal abuser and not even be aware. Residents must not be blind to any animal cruelty.
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Underweight animals, wet blankets, no food nor water in sight, no shelter and nails that are too long are just some of the signs of animal cruelty people must look out for.
People need to prioritise their animals. The SPCA wants to raise awareness on this topic and plans on going to schools to educate children on how to take care of animals.
“Without the support of the community, we will not be able to raise awareness and help put an end to animal cruelty,” she added.
