Pigs are ill treated: warrant issued to yard sale operators
Management was ordered to change the conditions at the sale yard.
Operators of a regular yard sale on the R24 in Krugersdorp were issued a warrant on Saturday 22 February following several months of non-compliance with the provisions set out by the National Council of SPCAs’ Farm Animal Protection Unit.
According to Grace de Lange, senior inspector of the unit, management had received several warnings since 2013 pertaining to a lack of water for animals on sale as well as transportation conditions.
“Pigs were transported in an enclosed delivery van without ventilation and they had no water to drink,” she says.
She adds that chickens and turkeys also were placed in small enclosures in which they were not able to stand upright.
The SPCA took action. A warrant was obtained following several weeks of non-compliance and the management of the sale yard as well as buyers and sellers were forced to comply.
Asked why the drastic measure was taken, De Lange emphasised that animals could not be treated as commodities and that they had rights just as humans do.
“After the warrant was issued the SPCA ensured that water bowls were purchased and placed on site, and saw to it that open vehicles were used for transporting the animals. We will continue to monitor activity at the sale yard,” assured De Lange.
To show your support for the National Council of SPCAs you can send an sms to 38018.
