Karima asks: ‘What’s wrong with us that we see no value in the lives of animals?’
Empress Karima is mourning the death of her dog after it died as a result of burn wounds.
LIMPOPO – A residnet of Tshakhuma Mutsindoni, Hulisani Mbedzi, better known as Empress Karima, is a lover of nature and all its creations and found joy and happiness in keeping dogs for pets.
“I am feeling sad because my friend has been killed. Sadly, not all people understand the value some pet owners get in keeping pets in the home,” she said.
She explained that she had always loved dogs. Many years ago, her brother was given a dog by his late friend, and it was named Bobi.
“Bobi was well looked after. He grew big and healthy. One day Bobi just went out and never returned. The incident left me traumatised,” she said.
Many years later, a relative gave the family a dog, which delivered offspring.
“When that dog had delivered beautiful puppies, my son and his cousin went there and requested two puppies,” she said.
The puppies were named Coolfelo and Kion, and Karima’s son felt that Kion was his pet.
Sadly, Coolfelo didn’t live long, for it was apparently poisoned.
Last Saturday however, Kion came home with burns on his body, which suggested that hot water was poured on him, said Karima.
“He was struggling to move, was in a lot of pain. He came to me just like he always did; he just stood near me not telling me how he felt because he couldn’t talk. But I can tell he was in excruciating pain.”
On 20 November when Empress Karima came home from college, her son informed her that Kion had died.
“I couldn’t guard my dog around the clock or keep him on a leash because that would have been abuse. People must try to understand that a pet is a pet and it will go anywhere. Animals trust us and that’s one reason why they feel free roaming around everywhere.”
Empress Karima said she lives in an area where most people do not have a liking for dogs. Once a person keeps a dog for a pet, it is bound to end up getting poisoned.
“It seems like it’s okay for people to poison pets,” she said. “What’s wrong with us that we see no value in the lives of animals? The heart of a human being is judged by the way he or she treats animals. We must care for the animals.”
