Tempers flare over ‘dog slaughter’

Every evening, Loki (my cuddly Chow-Shepherd) is waiting just inside the front door to greet me. Judging from his behaviour, seeing me is the best thing that could possibly happen to him. He stands up on his hind legs and paws at me until I lean forward to give him a hug while he covers every bit of my face in sloppy, doggy-drool kisses. Only once this ritual is complete will he dash outside to relieve his bladder. Even though he probably needs to pee really badly by the time I get home, he always says, “Hello. I missed you. I love you,” first.

As someone who has been blessed with the unconditional love of a loyal pet, it was unsettling for me to see photographs of a dog with its throat slit discarded in an open grave. I can’t imagine my loving ‘fur-child’ suffering a similar fate. The thought is upsetting and it makes you furious at the person responsible for such a heinous act. Since photos of a dog put down in this manner by an SPCA official were shared with the public on social media, the Vryheid SPCA has suffered an onslaught of criticism, threats and abuse but could there be a reason for it that one can understand, if not forgive? What follows is a factual account of what happened, a statement from the woman who shared the photos on social media, as well as comments from people in the community who have built a career around their passion for dogs. From this you are free to make up your own mind…