Sandton SPCA inspects guard dogs’ facility at The Wild
The Sandton SPCA conducted an inspection of the facility that keeps guard dogs at The Wilds following residents’ complaints.
Following an article about caged guard dogs at The Wilds Nature Reserve in Houghton, in the Gazette, the Sandton SPCA responded. The article titled Are these dogs in captivity? was published in the Gazette [Week ending July 21].
The Sandton SPCA stated on their Facebook page that their inspectorate department had conducted several inspections, as well as responding to cruelty complaints from members of the public, with regards to the guard dogs being kept on the premises at The Wilds in Houghton.
“During our inspections there were many concerns and contraventions of the Animals Protection Act noted, against which we have issued formal warnings. Details of these specific contraventions and concerns were documented and demands for rectification were given,” said the Sandton SPCA in a statement.
They went on to say that the company that owns the dogs did not comply in terms of the licenses required by law to use dogs for safeguarding. A written warning was issued to this effect to the company and the dogs were requested to be removed until the applicable paperwork was in place, the SPCA said. This was adhered to, and all the dogs were removed off-site. The correct licence was subsequently obtained, and the dogs returned to the property.
Sandton SPCA continued, “There has been an improvement on many issues which we have highlighted and raised with the company (such as concretising the floors of the cages and fixing protruding wires on the cages) but not enough. There is a lot of action still required to be implemented to ensure that the welfare of those animals is upheld. We remain opposed to any dog being used as a guard dog especially when they are kept under such conditions.”
The facts and findings of the SPCA were as follows:
- The dogs are leased by Annette van Rensburg Security to Imvusa Security.
- The dogs are contracted to Imvusa Security Company to work as dogs for the safeguarding of the Wilds Eco-Park.
- The dogs are used for patrolling from 18:00 to 06:00.
- From 06:00 to 18:00 they are supposed to be resting. This is by applicable legislation (Performing Animals Protection Act 24 of 1935).
The SPCA said they were still not happy with the state of those cages and the optimal care of the dogs and would have continuous engagement with the parties concerned to suggest changes and request action for improvements. They had recently conducted an inspection and made further recommendations, which are aimed at improving the welfare of the dogs. Routine inspections by the inspectorate team will ensure that those recommendations are implemented.
“Please rest assured that we are doing everything we can within the ambit of the law for these dogs and will provide updated feedback to the public as and when there is news to report,” the Sandton SPCA concluded.
Imvusa Security Company were contacted for comment but had given no response at the time of going to print.
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