A man was recently arrested in Sandton for allegedly abusing his dog to a terribly extreme degree.
This follows the South African Animal Welfare Inspectorate Association (SAAWIA) receiving a distress call from a rescue group on August 31, over a dog that had been beaten with a brick in Bryanston.
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SAAWIA trainee inspector Eugesh Haricharan said that he and Lee-Anne Ramalho, from The Dogs Trust, were responding to the anonymous tip-off at the house where the visible brutality is alleged to have taken place.
“Lee-Anne received anonymous WhatsApp messages about Ali [the dog] getting abused daily,” said Haricharan on September 19 when the paper spoke to him. “We showed them our ID, and said we were there on alleged animal cruelty reports.”
Ramalho and Haricharan found Ali worse for wear, with a number of injuries.
“She had extensive injuries to both paws from being beaten; major trauma to the left side of her face; wounds in her mouth, possibly caused by an object being inserted and yanked out,” Haricharan reported. “Ali was rushed to a vet.”
Upon inspection, it was found that Ali had numerous new wounds on top of old wounds from her life of continuous beatings.
“Ali is very traumatized, and will need extensive veterinary treatment,” Haricharan closed. “She will be kept at The Dogs Trust in very safe, capable hands whilst recovering, and legal proceedings against the owner will be initiated.”
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In a statement by SAAWIA, the organisation’s spokesperson Andries Venter said that the owner of the dog first became agitated that someone reported the matter, until it actually dawned on him that they could face police intervention should they further resist assistance to his dog.
“It was evident that the dog had been traumatized and suffered blunt force trauma,” Venter stated. “He willingly surrendered the injured and frail animal.”
Anthia Cronje was the veterinarian on duty at Pette Paws Vet in Midrand, where Ali was taken for treatment once rescued. Cronje recalled the state Ali had been in upon arrival, and how mistrusting of humans she remained after having been treated.
“When she came in, she was bleeding from the mouth, with infected, purulent wounds inside her ear; we had to sedate her to treat her, as she was very anxious,” Cronje said. “From the wounds, it was obvious that no medical attention had been sought over her older wounds. Her anxiety persisted after treatment, when she remained fearful, almost unaccepting to love.”
Gauteng district police spokesperson Captain Jeff Phora was contacted on September 18 towards ascertaining whether the owner was behind bars, what they could be charged with, and what penalties they are likely to face for such disdaneful handling of a pet. He had not responded at time of going to print.
What is confirmed is that a court date has been set for October 9 at the Randburg Magistrates Court, where this case will be heard.
If you are in a position to contribute towards the cost of Ali’s treatment, contact Petite Paws Veterinary Clinic on 011 702 1453, or post your donations anonymously to their bank account, with ‘Ali’ as reference.
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