IN what the National SPCA described as a landmark case, a Dobsonville man was sentenced to three years in prison for animal cruelty.
Jabu Mtshali was found guilty in Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on December 11 on charges laid in terms of the Animals Protection Act.
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He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for beating an elderly greyhound and 40 days for each additional charge. In sentencing him, Magistrate Smith also denied him the right to own an animal ever again. 21 charges of animal cruelty were laid against Mtshali.
When passing sentence, Smith commented: “A dog is like a family member. It is time people start taking responsibility for their pets and start having empathy for them.”
A person in the area witnessed the dogs on the Dobsonville property being mistreated and was applauded for having the courage to have taken decisive action. On January 27, he filmed Mtshali beating a dog and submitted the footage to Roodepoort SPCA.
The footage showed Mtshali restraining a greyhound with a lead and beating the animal mercilessly with a knobkerrie. The more the dog screamed in pain and terror, the more he beat the dog.
A warrant was obtained. Roodepoort SPCA personnel went to the property accompanied by two members of the SAPS. The conditions in which dogs were being kept on the property were appalling. The enclosures were swampy with urine and faeces, from which the ammonia burnt the eyes of the SPCA personnel. The smell was overpowering.
A greyhound was chained at the entrance of the first enclosure, the chain only 90cm long. The dog was balancing on the side cement on three legs in an attempt to raise itself out of the slush.
Three adult greyhounds were cowering at the back of the enclosure when SPCA personnel approached. In an attempt to “escape” from the humans, the dogs were crawling over each other trying to hide. This was where the dog that had been beaten was found, lying soaked in the slush and barely alive.
The second enclosure was no different with a dog on a short chain plus greyhounds cowering at the back of the enclosure. The only form of water was an old bucket with slimy liquid in it.
Two cross breed dogs were found chained outside with no shelter or water, both dogs were nursing puppies. The only shelter was an old kennel which was filled with beer bottles.
All 21 animals removed were emaciated, parasite ridden and petrified of everyone. The puppies that had been hiding in the rubble in the yard screamed and defacated when they were picked up. The chickens on the property were confiscated as well.
When the owner arrived at the property, he was arrested by the SAPS members.
The dog that was beaten had to be euthanased.
