A Queensburgh woman will be appearing in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court today, on animal cruelty charges brought against her by the Kloof and Highway SPCA.
In April, inspectors from the Kloof and Highway SPCA confiscated two dogs from her property in Queensburgh. A Bullmastiff cross, was found lying on its side, unable to move.
According to the SPCA, alarge pressure wound had formed on her hip bone from lying on the same side for so long and her perineum was covered with maggots, as she was unable to stand to relieve herself.
Due to an excessive period of starvation, the dog had survived by digesting her own body fat and was emaciated. The other dog, a Pom x female was chained to a jungle gym.
The Mastiff was rushed to the Kloof and Highway SPCA where vet, Dr Yeshindra Govender immediately assessed the dog. She was euthanased to prevent any further suffering.
The owner of the dogs came through to the Kloof and Highway SPCA offices where she denied treating her animals badly. She was asked to sign over the Pom x which she duly did. The Pom x was rehomed.
The owner’s vet confirmed that she had not seen or spoken to the owner for 10 months. The last time she had seen the Mastiff for a consultation was in June 2013.
During this consultation the vet advised the owner to put the dog to sleep as it was suffering from arthritis and a paralysed back. The owner did not comply and the mastiff was left lying in her backyard until the SPCA’s intervention.
Sr Cheri Cooke and Dr Yesh Govender of the Kloof and Highway SPCA have been subpoenaed to court and will be giving evidence against the accused.
“We have worked hard to put the docket together for this case and we are hoping for justice for this poor animal. I cannot think of a valid excuse that the owner could produce in court for having left this poor girl to suffer for so long” said Cooke.
.