Negligent farmers beware
SPCA permitted to open cases against negligent farmers.
Janette Muller, inspector for the Randfontein and Westonaria SPCA explained what farmers can and cannot do according to law at cattle auctions.
“Famers need to properly transport their cattle to these auctions. They cannot sell injured cattle and cattle auctioneers cannot offload or accept injured cattle. It is against the law and the SPCA can open a case against the farmer and the auctioneer should this happen,” she said.
Muller explainned further “If an animal is badly injured especially horses and cows, then the SPCA is authorised by law to perform and emergency slaughter. Should this happen, farmers will then lose the animal an subsequently lose the money he or she would have made with the animal.
“When we do the emergency slaughter, we use a special gun that lodges a bullet in the animal’s head. After the animal is paralysed, we then have to cut it but we only do this when there is no other option and when the animal is in severe pain.”
In order to still get the monetary value of the animal Muller added “Farmers can take the animal directly to an abattoir to still salvage what money they can. Alternatively, farmers can treat their injured animals and sell them once they are healthy. This is only if the animal is not injured badly and is not in a lot of pain but this generally prolongs the pain.
“If farmers refuse to work with the SPCA we are permitted by law to open up a case against farmers.”
Muller continued “Farmers are actually supposed to carry out an emergency slaughter themselves should one of their animals get severely injured and are in pain. When they carry out the emergency slaughter, they should do so quickly so that the animal does not feel it.”
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