Pro-life animal sanctuary for severely abused animals on the cards

For the dedicated members of KZN’s Animal RAID team, 2017 is the year they hope to establish an animal sanctuary, providing a safe home for the victims of dog fighting as well as abused street and rural animals.

But it is only through selfless public donations that this dream can be realised.

According to reports, dog fighting has increased by 500% in the past four years with young boys being hired as ‘runners’ to steal animals either as fighting dogs, or as ‘bait’ to be used to get the fighting dogs worked up.

The team believes the numbers are much higher because dog fighting is not only happening in the townships, but in urban areas as well.

“The problem is that once these animals are rescued, if at all, there is nowhere for them to go,” said Pawfect Nation founder Jessica Singh.

“The goal is to create a safe haven where these victims can be cared for, rehabilitated and offered sanctuary, without the threat of being put down because of the stigma attached to their breed.”

The NPO is now raising funds to buy land, at least 2 hectares (preferably larger) in size, where animals rescued from horrific circumstances will be offered permanent sanctuary.

The rescued animals will not be adopted out, but people can organise a virtual adoption whereby they sponsor an animal’s food and medical costs on a monthly basis, and they may visit the sanctuary to see the progress of their ‘adopted’ animal.

The exact location of the sanctuary is still to be confirmed.

About Animal RAID

Animal RAID (Rescue, Action and Investigation Division) is the direct-action unit of Pawfect Nation, a registered non-profit animal rights organisation that was founded by Singh in 2010.

Pawfect Nation and its new rescue unit, Animal RAID, champion the rights of all animals while educating people about the realities of animal abuse.

The team consists of trained law enforcement professionals – all volunteers – with tactical combat and defence skills, and SWAT and/or military backgrounds.

Also forming part of the team are seasoned dog behaviourists, handlers and trainers, as well as medical and legal professionals who are available to assist.

“The team will work closely with SAPS when conducting any raids, ensuring the law is followed and necessary procedures are adhered to,” explained Singh.

“This way we can be sure of increasing the conviction rate against animal abusers.”

 The NPO abides by pro-quality of life philosophy; this means all animals should live free from abuse, captivity, exploitation, suffering, chaining and confinement.

They also believe every animal deserves the right to be helped, no matter how serious their condition when rescued – they all deserve a fighting chance.

Although the team is ready to begin rescues, they have been unable to do so until a plot of land has been acquired for the sanctuary.

The public is encouraged to consider donating towards this cause, or ‘gifting’ a donation for animal-loving friends and family.

Pawfect Nation is also a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) so any individual or company can donate 10% of their taxes to the organisation and will be issued with a Section 18A tax certificate, which will be written off as a charitable donation by SARS.

Any further information, including banking details and contact information, can be found at www.animalraid.org.za or www.pawfectnation.org.za

Legal note on the searching of premises and the seizure of animals in the context of animal welfare

Section 8 of the Animal Protection Act of 1962 grants authority to officers of the NSPCA to search premises and seize animals if such authorisation was obtained in writing by a magistrate. However, the Animal Protection Act does not stipulate that officers of the NSPCA have an exclusive mandate to seize animals, nor does the Act explicitly prohibit other parties from seizing animals in the context of animal welfare. In terms of sections 20, 21, and 22 of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) of 1977, any police officer is empowered to search premises and seize any article, including animals. Nor does the NSPCA have an exclusive mandate to apply for a warrant for the purposes of searching a premises in regard to animal welfare. Parties such as nature conservation officers may also apply to a magistrate to search a premises. The execution of the warrant is then to be carried out by the South African Police Services (SAPS). Any animal seized by the SAPS as a result of such a process is initially under the custodianship of the SAPS. Following such seizure, an animal may be disposed of in terms of section 30(c) of the CPA. In the case of animals seized by SAPS, no law stipulates that custody of the seized animal must be transferred to the NSPCA. Instead, section 30(c) of the CPA allows the police to “make such other arrangements with regard to the custody thereof as the circumstances may require”. In the case of Macrae and Another v S (93/2013) [2014] ZASCA 37; 2014 (2) SACR 215 (SCA), a baboon seized by the SAPS was not handed over the NSPCA for safe keeping, but to a private game lodge. This was deemed by the courts to be in accordance with section 30 of the CPA.
Prof JA Singh, BA, LLB, LLM, MHSc, PhD Legal Advisor: Pawfect Nation

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