Kempton SPCA refutes claims pit bull, Tank, was taken illegally

Kempton Park resident Merisha van Jaarsveld has accused the Kempton Park SPCA of illegally taking her pit bull terrier, Tank, in the belief that do was neglected.

The Kempton Park SPCA has refuted this, stating that the organisation received a visit from a landlord who claimed his tenant had moved out and left Tank without food, water or shelter for several days.

Last week, van Jaarsveld posted about her ordeal online, and the post garnered much attention.

She confirmed to the Kempton Express that her family left their home in Kempton Park on the afternoon of March 8 and drove to Roodepoort to look for a place to stay because the family was planning to relocate.

“I have proof that we left on Friday (March 8) at 17:54 after we made sure Tank was fine. We handed a neighbour keys to the property,” said Van Jaarsveld.

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She added that Tank was left under the supervision of her neighbour, who she said also has a pit bull.

Van Jaarsveld said she received a phone call on March 10 as the family was getting ready to return to Kempton Park.

The call was from her neighbour, who said the property owner had cut the lock to the gate, and the SPCA inspectors had taken Tank.

“My neighbour said another neighbour had called the SPCA to alert them that Tank had been neglected and left without food and water.”

Van Jaarsveld has denied that this was the case.

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“My neighbour wanted to show the inspectors where the food, water, and bed was. They didn’t even bother to look,” she added.

According to Van Jaarsveld, she tried to make contact with the SPCA on March 13.

She said that in an email, to the organisation, she stated that if she did not receive a response from the SPCA, she would make a viral online post.

Van Jaarsveld has alleged that the SPCA told her that she needed to pay a penalty fee of R3 500 and she would need to re-adopt him at a cost of R1 500.

“I do not understand that they removed Tank for being neglected, but they are willing to accept cash for him to return to the same home. I would like to know if they really do it for the love of abandoned animals or just for the cash,” said Van Jaarsveld.

“I would like the SPCA to tell me why they actually took my baby Tank, why they did not follow procedures of the law and why did they not make any contact with us?”

Van Jaarsveld said she opened a case of theft and trespassing at the Florida Police Station, and the docket will be transferred to the Norkem Park Police Station.

Lieutenant Colonel John Jones, head of detectives at Norkem Park SAPS, confirmed that a case of theft has been opened against the SPCA at the Florida Police Station and they are waiting for the docket to be transferred.

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The Kempton Park SPCA manager Kira Sparrow said the Kempton Park SPCA received a visit from a concerned member of the public saying that his tenant had moved out and left their dog for several days with no food, water or shelter.

Sparrow said the Kempton Park SPCA reacted immediately and went out to collect the abandoned animal.

“On arrival at the property, the landlord allowed us entry into his property. We found a young male pit bull, intact, with no food or water.

The landlord requested us to take the animal as he was concerned for the dog’s welfare and signed an admission form – SPARROW.

“The landlord requested us to take the animal as he was concerned for the dog’s welfare and signed an admission form. The pit bull was transported to the SPCA for safekeeping,” said Sparrow.

Sparrow said the following day, a person came to Kempton SPCA and claimed that Tank was his.

She said the person became aggressive with staff and when questioned about why he had allegedly abandoned his dog, he could not provide a plausible reason.

The Kempton Park SPCA agreed to give Tank back to the owner on the condition that he is sterilised and microchipped and a property inspection is done of where the animal will kept.

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“The R5 000 fee was never mentioned, and standard adoption fees are set at R1 300.”

At the time of publication, Sparrow confirmed that Tank was still at the Kempton SPCA and doing well.

“We await the owners to follow due process to claim their dog,” she said.

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