JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – Complete disregard for animal rights has been displayed by lawbreakers who continue to sell canines in suburbs.
The sales technique of these people involves threatening residents with harming the dog if the pup is not bought right there and then.
A man was recently seen at Kibler Park Spar, attempting to sell a puppy to residents. According to Annette van Schalkwyk, a resident from the area, there are residents who bought these dogs after the seller threatened to harm them.
Animal Anti-Cruelty League’s (AACL) chief inspector Rulof Jackson and Jolene Beyleveld of the Johannesburg Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) confirmed this practice is common.
“Some sellers often use emotional ways of getting people to purchase animals, such as threatening to hurt the animal. It all really goes back to ‘supply and demand’. If people would stop buying puppies and kittens on the side of the road, people will stop selling them,” said Beyleveld.
“Conditions of these sales are often less than savoury. Pups are removed from their mothers before they are weaned, and these pups also have not been inoculated against disease. Obviously it is the economic return that will continue to drive this unacceptable method of sale,” said Jackson.
Places frequented by lawbreakers are flea markets, busy traffic intersections and areas where there is a concentrated human presence, like shopping malls and sidewalks of busy urban areas.
“Unless cruelty is evident, there is very little that the animal welfare organisations can do. Without a warrant, we can only confiscate animals to prevent injury or death,” said Jackson.
It is against the law to deprive a dog of proper shelter, water and food, and to mishandle animals in any manner.
Residents can report incidents of animal cruelty to the JMPD on 011 758 9100 or 011 375 5911.
