On Thursday, March 10 the SPCA Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark confiscated 10 starving dogs from a farm in Eikenhof, Johannesburg South.
During the inspection, a German Shepherd cross-breed dog was found confined to a veranda. It had no access to food or water, and was barely alive. It died on the way to the hospital.
An independent veterinarian who conducted a post-mortem on the dog said it was one of the worst cases of animal cruelty he had ever seen.
“The animal was very weak, with extreme muscle atrophy and no fat tissue present due to long-term starvation,” the vet said, adding the dog’s body was covered in fly larvae that had eaten holes through its skin.
The remaining dogs, including three emaciated German Shepherds, will be in the SPCA’s care for the duration of the court case.
“We will ensure that justice is served for these abused animals,” Marlien Pieterse, the SPCA’s manager said in a media release.
Investigations into the matter will start as soon as arrests are made.
