On the night of June 9, between 23:00 and 04:00 the following morning, the Animal Anti Cruelty League (AACL) Johannesburg premises was broken into.
All animals, both in hospital and kennels, were unharmed and safe, as were the staff that stay on site.
Carren Nickloes, marketing manager for the AACL, said: “This was not a quick grab and run. They forced entry through our roller shutter door and security gate and door into the admin and hospital building. They broke into our walk-in safe with grinders.
“They cleaned out everything, including laptops and cash. Our cash office in hospital reception was destroyed and the admin offices upstairs were broken into. Here, the desktop, computers and valuable equipment were taken from our inspector’s department and education office. Our brand new inverters and batteries are all gone.”
Nickloes highlighted that the AACL-JHB has in place every security precaution possible, which includes electric fencing, security gates, burglar bars, beams, cameras, alarm systems and 24-hour armed security response.
“The alarm on the fence and building was activated when our perimeter was breached. Sadly, we did not receive the standard of response that we had hoped and paid for from our security company. We are insured, so all material losses and damage to the building will be covered. It is the items like the financial implications of insurance excess and incidentals that are not covered.
“As many South Africans know only too well, it is the trauma and the time it takes to re-secure a premises once forcibly entered, that is frustrating.
“We are in shock, and we are angry but we cannot speculate the who and why until the police have investigated and viewed video footage fully and advised us accordingly,” said Nickloes.
AACL remains willing to serve the community and their animals. On the morning of June 13 at 08:30, the mobile clinic was up and running, assisting the steady stream of clients and their animals for consultations, vaccinations and surgery.
The kennel office is open for adoptions and for handing in stray or abandoned animals. The organisation’s inspectorate is on the road, investigating animal abuse and doing property inspections for the families that are wanting to adopt.
AACL phone lines are open but diverted to a mobile phone, so they ask the public to be patient and keep trying to get through. Contact AACL on 011 435 0672 or jhb@aacl-jhbnb.co.za
Should anyone wish to donate, the banking details are:
First National Bank, account name Animal Anti-Cruelty League, account type: current, account number: 5038 0046 810, branch code: 250 655, branch: Rosebank Johannesburg and use reference Breakin23
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