During December, the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) together with the National SPCA and the Johannesburg SPCA seized hundreds of animals from a property in Tarlton.
According to Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA manager Mandy Cattanach they received a complaint about the property and what they found there was worse than anything they could have imagined.
A woman currently lives on the property with her two children and the house does not have running water or electricity. The woman alleged that her husband had brought the animals to the property but that he had left and they did not know where he was.
When the SPCA visited the premises the first time on 21 December, they confiscated 25 animals, among them spotted eagle owls, barn owls, a puff adder snake, a large spotted genet, Vervet monkeys, tortoises, suricates, pigeons, piebald crows and falcons.
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The animals were taken away because the owners did not have permits for keeping them and because they were living in dire circumstances without food or fresh water.
The animals in need of veterinary care were also confiscated. A Rottweiler cross that was born without the ability to use its hind legs were left without any medical treatment for several years. Two other dogs were also in need of urgent medical care and were taken away.
The indigenous animals that were seized were all taken to the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital for rehabilitation and release.
The owners of the property were warned to start looking after the rest of the animals and to provide them with food and fresh water.
Upon returning to the property the SPCA found that nothing had been done to improve the rest of the animals’ living conditions and more of the animals were confiscated on 28 December.
Among these were about 12 dogs including a pregnant Rottweiler, horses, pigs, geese, chickens and turkeys.
There were also two tanks with goldfish that were living in stagnant water. Most of these animals were living in a thick layer of faeces and had green slimy water to drink. Some of them even lived among the carcasses of other dead animals.
One of the horses that was taken from the property was violent and attacked the inspectors when they tried to get close to it.
Various cases including animal cruelty have been opened and are being investigated.
Unfortunately not all the animals could be removed and there are still some dogs and cats left on the property. These animals are being checked on and the fish and spiders that were left behind had already been given new homes.
In another equally alarming case, a man was arrested at a Tarlton intersection where he was selling a chameleon.
Mandy said those people sell almost any animal they can get their hands on, including chameleons, birds, tortoises, rabbits and puppies.
She appealed to the public to stop buying these animals and to stop supporting illegal roadside animal trade.
Although it seems like you are helping these animals, the people who sell them just get more of them to sell.
The man in the second incident was arrested but after paying a fine he was back to selling animals.
After taking over the Krugersdorp area more than a year ago they have been overwhelmed by the number of rescues they had to do, Mandy said.
When they rescued the large number of animals in December they had to use the grass intended for other animals, to feed the horses and they are running low on supplies. The SPCA needs your help.
Mandy’s biggest wish is for people to report animal cruelty to them. She said if they do not know about it they can not do anything about it.
If you would like to help the SPCA support these animals you can donate to Roodepoort SPCA by making a deposit to Standard Bank, account number 410 411 094, branch code 001206, Clearwater. You can also make them a beneficiary on your Woolworths My School card.
To report any form of cruelty, contact 011 672 0448.
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