Animal cruelty defined by Amanzimtoti SPCA
Common misconceptions lead those attempting to report animal cruelty doing so ineffectively, and many of those committing cruelty not aware that they're doing it.
THE Amanzimtoti SPCA enlightened its community as to exactly what animal cruelty is.
Common misconceptions lead those attempting to report animal cruelty doing so ineffectively, and many of those committing cruelty not aware that they’re doing it.
The Five Freedoms, sometimes known as Brambell’s Five Freedoms, are a compact of rights for animals under human control, including those intended for food or which act as working animals. The Five Freedoms was originally developed from a UK government report on livestock husbandry in 1965. These five freedoms are used as a basis for the actions of professional groups, including veterinarians, and have been adopted by representative groups internationally including the World Organisation for Animal Health and the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The Five Freedoms
- Freedom from hunger and thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain health and vigor.
- Freedom from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a suitable resting area.
- Freedom from pain, disease or injury by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
- Freedom to express normal behavior by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
- Freedom from fear and stress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
Amanzimtoti SPCA’s Zakhona Mzelemu explained that many only see animal cruelty as a one sided issue, only involving pets in a household environment. She elaborated on the topic, explaining that sheep, cattle, goats and chickens are also victims of ongoing animal abuse.
Some of the common practices and some popular myths that contribute to animal cruelty include
- Allowing your animal to have four or more litters, as this leads to the collapsing of the uterus.
- Cutting the ‘worm under the tongue’ of your pet, this leads to your pet dying of starvation and thirst.
- Using petrol, oil, bleach and other toxic substances to treat mange or skin problems.
- Attempting to self-medicate your animal back to health without experience of knowledge.
- Chaining your animal up with a short running distance.
- Neglecting your animal by forgetting to feed and water them daily.
All household pets and even most domestic animals should be de-flead, dewormed, sterilised, bathed, and emotionally, verbally and physically treated with care.
“The best way to assess if you’re treating an animal correctly is to ask yourself if you’re treating it as you would a child,” said Zakhona.
“Would you scream at your child, chain it up, disallow it love and affection, forget to feed or water it or neglect it in any other way? You wouldn’t do these things to a baby or child, so its cruelty to do them to an animal.”
Zakhona further explained that an animal has red blood, kidneys, a heart, lungs, a brain and much of the same make-up as a human.
“We are one. Our animals can pick up on our stress and emotions, they can relate to our feelings because they experience many of them too,” she said.
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When attempting to report what they see cruelty to be, the public often incorrectly reports the crime and no further action can be taken by the SPCA or other animal anti-cruelty organisations.
The Amanzimtoti SPCA explained that if witnessing cruelty to animals, be it household or domestic, photo or video evidence must be taken and sent to the Toti SPCA. Along with the footage, the witness must provide their name, a contact number and address (this will be kept confidential by the SPCA).
If the cruelty is ongoing (a dog being starved and chained, which a visiting inspector can see), photographic or video evidence is not required, but details are.
“Many members of the public reporting cruelty have pure intentions, but when the SPCA staff begin to ask the necessary questions, such as asking for a name, contact number or address, the person reporting becomes impatient, puts up a wall and doesn’t work with us,” said Zakhona. “We need certain information before we an assist in any way.”
For more information or to find out which animals are up for adoption, visit the SPCA’s 1 Nyati Road office, Athlone Park or call them on 031-904-2341.
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