Be wary of fake inspectors taking your pets – local SPCA

The Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) would like to warn the community of people who have been impersonating SPCA inspectors and taking community members’ animals.

Mandy Cattanach, general manager and senior inspector at the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA said this is a huge concern for their organisation. Although there have been many impersonators in the past, the problem has become more frequent this past year.

“My inspectors have gone out to investigate animal cruelty complaints only to be told that the SPCA had already been there and took their pets away.”

She added the SPCA works in specific jurisdictions.

“They don’t overstep those borders/ boundaries and would know if another SPCA inspector had removed animals from the property.”

Cattanach spoke about an incident in which two pit bulls were simply taken because it was said that they were being neglected. In another incident a woman was warned against cutting her dog’s hair too short as it is against the law. Cattanach said there is no such law.

“All breeds are targeted.”

Several ‘animal rescue groups’ are popping up, especially in the Krugersdorp area, and those groups then think they can enforce the Animal Protection Act, but Cattanach said SPCA inspectors are trained and authorised to perform their duties.

“An SPCA inspector goes on a two-week intensive training course that entails writing exams and completing projects. Only after passing all law exams and many other animal-related topics you will be given authority by a magistrate.”

No animal can simply be removed from its owner. Only after educating the owner has failed or if there is blatant animal cruelty a warrant is obtained from a magistrate and the animals are seized. The perpetrator is then prosecuted in a court for animal cruelty.

She said the public must be aware of this and not just give their pets to threatening members of the public. All the SPCA inspectors are in uniform with the SPCA insignia. Their vehicles are also branded.

“The Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA is the only organisation that can enforce the various animal laws in the Roodepoort area.”

If you are worried, you can contact your local SPCA and enquire if a particular inspector is indeed employed with them.

“If anyone takes a person’s pet off their property without their permission or the permission of an adult on the property, it is theft and a case can and must be opened at the police and reported to the SPCA.”

She explained that there is no such thing as ‘animal police’ as some groups, especially in the Roodepoort area, are claiming to be. Some people even take stray animals and keep them. This is against the municipal by-laws as all stray animals must be taken to the pound at the SPCA.

“Keeping a stray animal without reporting it is theft. A stray animal cannot be ‘hoarded’ on a property or farmed out to other homes.”

A pound is established to enable owners who have lost pets to look for them at one central location. “How will owners of lost pets ever find them if people are keeping them?” she asked.

Cattanach said the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA has been fulfilling the duties of the Krugersdorp Animal Pound for over six years.

“It is a huge concern that animals are being stolen in these ways. Are they being used in dog fights, kept by hoarders or being subjected to any of the many ways in which animals are abused?”

Read more: SPCA says goodbye to their beloved Patches