Alleged dog abuser caught on camera
BRYANSTON - Using the power of social media, Ross McPhail managed to raise awareness of an alleged animal abuse incident.
McPhail was driving down Cambridge Road in Bryanston on 20 April when his gaze fixed on a man walking his boerboel on the pavement.
According to McPhail, the man suddenly started to beat the dog and pummelled the canine three or four times.
McPhail had already driven past the scene by this stage, but made a U-turn and started to record the scene on his Smartphone.
He said he witnessed the man bashing the dog’s head into the pavement and also saw him hit the dog several times with a leash.
Unfortunately McPhail did not manage to record much of the abuse, but he uploaded the footage that he did capture to his Facebook account as soon as he could and since then the footage has gone viral.
Some Facebook users have criticised McPhail’s recording of the video as opposed to him intervening and stopping the abuse. However, McPhail explained that he didn’t feel as though he could intervene because he didn’t feel safe to approach the situation.
“I have experience with dog training and approaching a situation like that, the dog could attack,” he said. “I also was worried that the man might have had a gun or something.”
Since posting the video on Facebook, McPhail said he was contacted by a number of rescue organisations who have decided to take on the alleged animal abuse case and are trying to find the man in the video.
Robyn Sayers from Bryanston-based rescue organisation Wags and Whiskers said the video was absolutely disgusting, yet an unfortunate reality for many animals.
She said if any animal neglect or abuse is witnessed by a member of the public, they are welcome to contact the Wags and Whiskers team day or night or their nearest SPCA. Sayers explained that in a case like this, the rescue team should be able to arrange police assistance at the scene.
Details: wagsandwhiskers7@gmail.com; www.facebook.com/pages/Wags-Whiskers-Rescue-Team
Do you think posting videos or photos of alleged animal abuse on social media is effective in spreading awareness? Post your comments below, and let us know.
