The animals need you
SANDTON – The Sandton SPCA is dealing with cases of animal neglect, abuse and cruelty and they need the public to come forward and offer assistance.
The Sandton SPCA covers many areas in and around Sandton and are inundated with cases of animal abuse, cruelty and neglect.
It is for this reason that Sue Lindsay, general manager of the organisation, is urging community members to get involved with their local SPCA and offer assistance.
Stephen Maila, an inspector at the organisation said, “We cover many areas in the south of Johannesburg, Hillbrow, Alexandra and Sandton [to name a few]. We therefore deal with cases all over the place.”
To highlight that the organisation needs assistance, and the need for the public to be educated on correct animal care, Maila shared two sad cases of animal cruelty.
“The first case happened in Sunninghill. A person was keeping four bunnies locked away in a townhouse complex. When the complaint came, we went in to investigate, but the owner resisted.”
Maila went on to explain that the organisation had to obtain a court order and warrant to get entry into the home. “When we arrived, there was a bad stench and the bunnies were in a bad condition. They had all been locked up in one of the bedrooms. The SPCA had to issue the lady with a warning.”
He explained that it was against the natural way of life for these animals to live in such conditions as they needed to be left outside where they can burrow in the garden. Maila stressed that the bunnies were fully grown and it was unnatural for them to be confined to such a small space.
“Bunnies need to be able to move around and should [exercise] healthy and natural behaviour in the outdoors. Unfortunately this is not the only Sandton complaint [for animal cruelty] that we have received recently.”
Maila is currently dealing with an animal cruelty case in Kensington. “We are laying charges against a man who threw a cat from the forth floor of a building. The investigation is still ongoing.”
He concluded, “We need help from the community because … the SPCA provides an essential service to animals and the community and we have to educate the public and assist the animals.”
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