Update: Helderkruin owner accused of animal abuse speaks out
‘I do not believe n tying up my dogs’
“I have five dogs on my property and I do not believe in hurting them or tying them up,” said Maphefo Mangena of Helderkruin.
She is the owner of the dog that was confiscated by the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA on 18 January. The female dog was found with another one tied to a tree without adequate shelter and access to food and water.
The Record initially reported that both dogs were confiscated, but it came to light that only the one that had the chain embedded in her neck was taken away for treatment.
Read the initial article here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2019/01/23/spca-appalled-by-animal-cruelty-in-helderkruinhelderkruin-owners-charged-with-animal-cruelty-web/
Mangena said that they had only moved into the house last December, and that the property did not have a gate. “The walls are quite low and the dogs can jump over them, resulting in their getting out and roaming the streets. I already had a run-in or two with one of the residents in the street after my dogs had eaten some of the ducks in the park. I told him that I was in the process of having the walls extended, but would only be able to have it done by the end of January. I could see that he was not too happy with my explanation,” she said.
According to her, the neighbour reported her to the SPCA. “I was not at home when the inspectors came to the house and they left a note on the gate.
They jumped over my wall, entered my property without contacting me and took one of the dogs, claiming they were tied up and hurt,” said Mangena.
When confronted with the photos taken by the inspectors, Mangena could not give an explanation as to why the dogs were tied up, or by whom; she merely responded with a question, “Ask yourself this, who jumped over my wall?”
Read more:
https://www.citizen.co.za/roodepoort-record/2019/01/28/humour-even-though-it-was-serious/
The claims made by Mangena were sent to Cattanach, who confirmed that they had only confiscated one of the dogs. “Two female dogs were tied to the tree, but we could only confiscate the one that was injured by the chain embedded in her neck. There was no legitimate reason for us to take the other four dogs,” she said.
As for the claim that they had gained entry to the property by climbing over the wall, Cattanach said, “We are not allowed to enter any property without permission. The day we visited the property, the owner’s domestic worker, Precious, opened the gate for us and showed us where the dogs were.”
She also confirmed that a charge of animal abuse was laid against Mangena.
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