Donkey in Selcourt
The Addie recently received a complaint from a Selcourt resident, Bruce Gardner, in regard to a donkey being kept on his neighbour's premises.
The donkey is currently being kept in the backyard of another Selcourt resident.
According to the donkey’s owner, Anneke Watt, she received the donkey as a Christmas gift from her boyfriend.
They now keep the donkey in a pen within their backyard as a pet.
Gardner feels that it is cruel to have a donkey in a pen in a suburb and the noise is irritating him and his family.
Although the donkey cannot be removed from the residence by the SPCA until they receive a complaint or proof that it is being mistreated, Debbie Miller, fundraiser for the Springs SPCA, reports that it is unlawful to keep a hoofed animal as a pet in a residential area.
According to Miller, the metro should issue a fine and/or a warning with a stipulated time for the animal to be removed.
If the owners of the donkey do not comply, the metro should then take further action by getting a warrant to have the animal removed.
At such a time the SPCA will assist the metro in the removal of the animal.
Themba Gadebe, spokesman of the metro stated that Ekurhuleni’s Environmental Health Directorate will investigate the matter and will take action in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of the public health bylaws with regards to the keeping of animals.
The complainant was also notified that the matter is receiving attention.
