BURNT ALIVE: No arrests made as yet
Investigations are ongoing into the barbaric act of burning three dogs alive.
No arrests have been made in last week’s horrific SPCA case that has left the coast’s animal lovers reeling.
This was confirmed by the Saps communication and liaison office for the Ugu District.
They also further verified that a cruelty to animals case was opened at Margate police station on Tuesday last week after a vehicle was found burnt out with the carcasses of three animals inside on May 19.
Jacques Peacock, PRO of the National Council of SPCAs, said the investigation is at an early stage and, therefore, the circumstances remain unclear.
“We trust Saps to conduct their investigation diligently and take to task those responsible. Further, as a matter of protocol, due to SPCA property being damaged and lost (including the animals, which are considered property in South African law), an internal investigation is also being conducted,” he said.
In a press statement, the National Council of SPCAs stated that three dogs inside a Ford Bantam bakkie belonging to the Lower South Coast SPCA were burnt to death as a result of the vehicle being set alight.
The vehicle was found at the bottom of a steep grassy embankment in Nkampini in Gcilima, inland from Southbroom.
Peacock said the Lower South Coast SPCA received a notification from their vehicle tracking company just after 18:40 (on May 19), indicating that the vehicle’s tracker had sent off an emergency signal.
“The tracking company, SPCA personnel and the Saps Search and Rescue Unit initiated a search for the driver and vehicle. At that stage, it was unknown whether the vehicle was transporting animals or not,” he said.
The vehicle was found with three dogs in the back. They had been burnt alive.
“The amount of suffering these animals must have endured is unimaginable. The driver was found unharmed but confused early on Monday morning this week,” said Peacock.
He said it is ‘barbaric’ that anyone would commit such a heinous act against the SPCA, especially considering it is a non-profit organisation with extremely limited resources.
“This struggling SPCA has been serving its community to the best of its ability, but this malicious act has brought operational capacity to a standstill. The SPCA’s vehicles offer a lifeline to countless animals in need and, without it, the SPCA cannot reach those animals which require assistance,” he said.
Peacock said this treasonous act should be condemned by the community in the strongest terms. He called on Saps to ensure swift and stringent action against those responsible.
LSC SPCA manager, Mike Davis, said the society has been left traumatised by the event and appealed to all individuals, organisations and companies to assist with donations and/or assistance towards replacing the vehicle or loaning one.
“With already limited recourses, the SPCA cannot afford to go a single day without a vehicle,” he said.
Davis can be contacted on 060 5020427.
Donations can be made directly to the Lower South Coast SPCA. Bank: Nedbank Limited. Branch code 198765. Account no. 1184618100. Reference: Vehicle
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