Protest against animal trading

Volunteers of the animal rights organisation Beauty without Cruelty marched down John Vorster Road in Randpark Ridge to protest against animal trading.

The Metro police accompanied them. Even though it was Valentine’s weekend, the Ban Animal Trading Facebook page called on all its friends to join the march. Ban Animal Trading SA is an initiative by Beauty without Cruelty.

Smaragda Louw who runs the Gauteng office for the organisation said they had a problem with pet shops and had heard disturbing reports.

“Our problem is where they get their animals from,” said Louw. “It is always slightly dicey. They often get it from puppy farms or backyard breeders.”

The protesters held their banners and posters up high and chanted, “Adopt, don’t shop. We don’t need your freaking store.”

Louw believes pet shops are not moral. “They do not do a home inspection and no sterilisation is done. Who knows if the animal is really in a good and safe place. The pet shops are only in it for the money.”