According to an inspector of the Carletonville SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), Mrs Bokkie Janse van Vuuren, residents of Carletonville noticed the badly injured Pekingese-cross in the street in front of their homes.
The black and white female’s lower jaw was shattered and the soft tissue had torn away from her upper jaw. There was also a large blister in her mouth.
‘We suspect that a cracker had exploded inside the dog’s mouth, one way or another.
Unfortunately, her injuries were so severe that we had to euthanise her to put her out of her misery,’ Janse van Vuuren says.
Like many other animal lovers, she had hoped that the rain on New Year’s Eve would deter people from illegally shooting crackers in residential areas like Carletonville.
This proved not to be the case, however, and many dogs were terrified of the fireworks.
By Monday, many pets that had run away were still at the SPCA’s kennels. In most cases, people had found them wandering around the neighbourhood and brought them in.
People who are looking for their lost pets can visit the SPCA’s kennels in 51 Beerster Street in Oberholzer from 09:00 to 16:00 on weekdays or call the SPCA at 018 788 6262.
