SPCA warns residents after influx of cruelty reports
All animals, whether domestic or wild, have basic rights and should be treated as such. This is what the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) wants to shed light on to owners and residents.
In recent months, the Midrand SPCA has been facing an increase in the number of reports on animal cruelty cases, and this has caused the SPCA to do more inspections than usual and has found more than one report of similar cases.
The SPCA’s function is to enforce the Animal Protection Act for all pet owners and the general public.
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They investigate complaints, rescue animals, facilitate adoptions and provide other veterinary services.
With the increase in crime in Midrand, residents have sought protection from their pets, especially dogs, and in doing so, this causes more harm and neglect to animals.
Inspector and general manager of the Midrand SPCA, Pam Pretorius, said it is very important to educate young people because they are also usually in situations where they mishandle animals and don’t understand the laws that are around having animals as pets.
She further explained that some dog owners chop off the dog’s ears and tails to make them look vicious, hit their dogs, chain them up and put them in cages.
“It’s now become a fashion to fight pit bulls as a game they [owners] play; they do this to show each other who is macho, and that is a criminal offence.
Then the adult dog owners actually do more harm than the children by firstly chopping off the dog’s ears and tails to make them look vicious, secondly, hitting their dogs, chaining them up and putting them in cages. That is a criminal offence and a serious crime that I think people are not understanding,” said Pretorius.
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Moreover, it is not advisable to have vicious pets because they eventually turn against their owners, so it is advisable for pet owners not to keep their pets with the intent of getting protection.
Brenda Lucas, Midrand SPCA chairperson, also urged residents not to take in any stray animals they find, and instead, they must bring them to the SPCA. She also emphasised the importance of pet owners vaccinating their pets and taking them to the veterinarian when they are sick.
“I urge all pet owners to take care of their dogs as they take care of themselves, and take their pets to the veterinarian and vaccinate them.
It is also illegal to keep any stray animals you find, so if people do find any stray animals, can they please bring them to any SPCA near them?” said Lucas.
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