Stray dog meets its fate after being snagged in an illegal bear trap

“If stray animals are spotted, the community needs to instead contact the Municipal Pound (034 328 7757), and they will pick up the dog. It is not the responsibility of the SPCA."

June 4, 2019

Tersia Gopi 1 minute read

An adult stray male dog’s paw was imprisoned in an illegal bear trap.

His eyes filled with fear and despair, the stray dog instinctively licked at where the bear trap had caught his paw.

The atmosphere in the room at Ncandu Animal Clinic was sombre as Veterinarian, Anne Mckenzie administered the lethal injection, the dog’s life slowly slipping away…

Injured, scared and lost

SPCA Inspector Suveshin Naidoo found the adult dog on Monday (May 27) in the oSizweni area with its paw lodged in an illegal bear trap.

The dog was transported to the clinic for urgent medical intervention.

“The trap contravenes the animal act,” said an irate Naidoo.

According to Naidoo, the stray dog was identified as a ‘nuisance’ in the area, as it had allegedly eaten numerous chickens, supposedly belonging to nearby homeowners.

What infuriated Naidoo is the fact that these homemade traps were illegal.

“Act 71 of 1962 sub-section (2) (J) of the Animal Act states that no person it permitted to possess or sell animal traps without a licence,” he explained.

Naidoo stated that because of the way these traps are made, the dog’s paw would have had to be amputated as the bones often break when the trap snaps shut.

“The sad reality is, no one adopts adult dogs with an amputated paw. It would be unfair for us [SPCA] to keep him in this condition in the hope he would be adopted. The only resolution would be to euthanise him,” explained Naidoo.

In conclusion Mckenzie said the trap seemed to have been on the dog’s paw for about a day.

It was removed by Naidoo after the dog was put down.

“If stray animals are spotted, the community needs to instead contact the Municipal Pound (034 328 7757), and they will pick up the dog. It is not the responsibility of the SPCA. If they had done that, it would not lead to people making traps to hurt animals.”