Resident threatens to shoot ‘vicious’ dog
The SPCA was forced to intervene to assist a dog tied to the back of a truck and later threatened with shooting.
A dog endured a trip to and from Ladysmith while tethered to the load bin of a flatbed truck. It was only when a resident threatened to shoot the ‘vicious’ dog, that its life was truly in danger.
After investigation, Newcastle SPCA reported the dog’s owner, who recently relocated to Ladysmith, instructed a furniture removal company to take his pet back home, where a relative would take responsibility for its care. The animal had a rope tied to its collar, securing it to the truck’s load bin for the duration of the ride.
Heather Gero of the Newcastle SPCA, said when the furniture removal truck arrived back in town, a tenant on the property contacted the organisation to deal with the ‘savage’ animal. Although the dog was frightened, Mrs Gero said there was little basis for the resident’s anger.
“I went in myself to untie the dog so I know it wasn’t vicious.”
The dog is safe at the SPCA, yet there appears to be a great need for education on animal-related laws, Mrs Gero added.
“There are things which should be common sense.”
Among the points Mrs Gero hoped to bring across, were that: a dog should not be transported while tied to a flatbed truck (there are cages available for animal transport) and residents should not threaten to shoot animals.
“Idle words can create more trouble,” she concluded.
