CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST UPDATE: Wired dogs owner speaks out (Video)
UPDATE: 6 May 2015, 9:30am – On 5 May, Johannesburg resident Nico Pieterse bravely pursued the bakkie from William Nicol all the way into the Joburg CBD.
Our journalist accompanied Chad Thomas of IRS investigations along with the SPCA to the owner of the vehicle that was seen transporting the dogs. The vehicle owner said that the van has been leased to another person to use. The dogs are not at the owner’s property.
They will be going to the property where the vehicle is now. Updates to follow.
Watch a video from the scene below:
Pieterse said, “I noticed two dogs that had wire in their mouths with blood gushing out while being harnessed to a bakkie. I decided to pursue, I contacted police and the Sandton SPCA. I wanted these dogs to be saved. Their condition was absolutely appalling.”
According to Pieterse, the two males in the bakkie noticed that he was following them and started to point fingers at him.
Pieterse added, “The men started to laugh at me and were on their cellphones. I followed them into Hillbrow where they went down a one-way road and, in my opinion, it looked as if they were trying to cut me off and come into conflict with me.”
Chad Thomas from IRS Forensic Investigations is looking into the matter.
Thomas said, “We are currently investigating the case pro bono and we are taking it to heart as this is unacceptable.”
Animal carer James Lee-Thomas said, “The question everyone is asking is, was the bakkie transporting the dogs to a vet? Even if the dogs were being transported to a medical facility, the way in which they were being transported is illegal and unacceptable as the dogs were clearly connected to the vehicle with wire.”
According to a source, the police have made contact with the owner of the bakkie, however, we have been unable to confirm this. Updates to follow.
INITIAL REPORT: 5 May 2015, 10:30pm – A white Toyota bakkie was seen to be transporting two dogs on 5 May from Bryanston to Hillbrow.
The dogs had wire in their mouths with blood gushing out while being harnessed to the bakkie.
The gruesome pictures surfaced on Facebook when a user posted pictures of the dogs in the back of the van on the social networking website.
According to the man’s Facebook status, he spotted the dogs on William Nicol Road and followed them in to the Joburg CBD towards Hillbrow.
We are currently waiting for comment from the NSPCA and the Johannesburg Metropolitan police.
It is believed that an animal rescue group is currently trying to locate the dogs and are awaiting back up from security officials or the SAPS.
In April this year, in a separate incident, a man was videoed allegedly beating his dog on Cambridge Road in Bryanston.
The video was circulated via social media and charges have now been laid against the man by animal rescue organisation, Soweto Animal Rescue and Advisory Centre.
What are your thoughts on this incident? Have you seen this before?
Tell us by posting on our timeline, North Eastern Tribune or tweet us @NE_Tribune
Add North East Tribune on BBM for the latest news in your community. PIN: 29BEEF78