Join the fight against animal cruelty

ANIMAL cruelty is an inhumane act, a fact which needs to be taught from a young age

On the morning of 28 April 2017, a brown and black female dog washed up on Winklespruit beach. It was picked up by someone who lives close to the beach. The dog was then taken to Dr Hoole’s rooms. SPCA field officer Colin Cele was at the vet when they opened the black bag to find a dog whose four legs were bound with rope.

It is unclear if this was done because someone wanted to kill the dog or if it was part of some kind of cruel ritual.

Read the full story here: Dog drowned and found in plastic bag 

Following the increase in animal cruelty cases, residents are encouraged to create awareness and help stop these inhumane acts.

What is cruelty?

Animal cruelty can take many different forms. It includes overt and intentional acts of violence towards animals, but it also includes animal neglect or the failure to provide for the welfare of an animal under one’s control. In addition to this, it is important to remember animal cruelty is not restricted to cases involving physical harm.

Cruelty may include:

• Torturing or beating an animal
• Confining or transporting an animal in a way that is inappropriate for its welfare
• Killing an animal in an inhumane manner where its suffering is prolonged unnecessarily
• Failing to provide appropriate or adequate food or water for an animal
• Failing to provide appropriate treatment for disease or injury
• Failing to provide appropriate living conditions.

Report animal cruelty

If you have witnessed animal cruelty, including neglect or abandonment, you should report it via a phone call or email with photos or a video if possible.

When you contact the SPCA, you must be ready to provide as much information as possible:

· Your own name, address and telephone number. This is necessary for record purposes and also enables the inspector to inform you of the result of his/her investigation. These details remain confidential. It is stressed that the policy of the SPCA is to treat all complaints in strict confidence. Names of complainants are not divulged to anyone unless the complainant has no objection.

· The name(s), address and telephone number(s) of the person(s) involved.

· Date, time and place of offence.

· Name, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses.

· Registration number and description of any vehicle involved.

· State whether you would be prepared to testify in a court of law.

Give a detailed description of what you saw, as factually and unemotionally as possible. This is important, as emotion clouds coherence, and important details can be omitted. Finally, don’t be afraid to get involved in any legal proceedings. After all, if you feel strongly enough to report the matter in the first place, you should be prepared to assist the SPCA to do whatever has to be done to address the issue.

What if you can’t keep your dog anymore?

Take the dog to the SPCA where it can be put down in a humane way if it is an old dog. Young, healthy dogs will be put up for adoption to be rehomed.

Amanzimtoti SPCA urges anyone in the community who knows anything about the dog that was dumped in the sea to come forward with information. Call Amanzimtoti SPCA on 031-904-2424 or email info@spcatoti.co.za.

DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp, send an invite to 061-876-3179
The Southlands Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?

Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031-903-2341 and speak to a journalist.

(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)