Animal safety will be prioritised

Midrand SPCA has vowed to continue upholding the safety of animals.

This after they were alerted to an incident where a truck carrying cattle had been stuck for more than 10 hours on the side of the highway.

According to Midrand SPCA’s general manager, Pamela Pretorius, the SPCA received a call at about 1.30pm on 26 May about a truck carrying 52 cows which had broken down. The truck was on the N1 highway near the Allandale Road off-ramp.

Pretorius said upon assessing the truck, it was found that it had broken down because of a cracked radiator. They contacted the owner of the truck who told them he was trying to organise a mechanic. “We later had to organise our own mechanic who arrived at 3.30pm. He recommended that the truck, with 52 cows, be towed,” she added.

“The owner, however, called for a second mechanic that recommended the same thing. He later on called a third mechanic from Brits whom after a few minutes said the same.”

Pretorius said they then decided to arrange a tow truck to assist, however, while waiting for the tow truck they were told by the owner of the truck that he had found a cheaper tow truck service and the one the SPCA had organised must leave.

“This was at 6.57pm. He [truck owner] professed to be worried about his cows’ safety as they were worth R1.2 million, yet he left his workers and cows on the side of a busy road for hours, putting all of us in danger.”

Pretorius said when transporting animals, people should have a back-up plan especially if they were transporting animals for long distances.

“We will make sure that animals are safer on the roads, and are offloaded safely because those animals could have been in distress from the noises and the fast cars which we cannot allow.”

Details: Midrand SPCA 011 265 9935.

Related Article: 

https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/287938/midrand-spca-has-some-animals-up-for-adoptions/