Hier volg die volledige verklaring wat deur die NDBV aan die Herald gestuur het na hulle besoek aan Paws in Oktober. Paws se antwoord op die bewerings is ook by gelas.
NDBV Skryf: On 13 October 2016 we conducted a proactive visit to P.A.W.S. and Mr. Andries Venter, the Manager of P.A.W.S., granted us access to the property. Mr. Venter invited us into the office where he informed us about the problems that he was experiencing at P.A.W.S. Problems that included animal husbandry concerns, lack of euthanasia concerns, sick animals, the competence of their resident veterinarian and that he has had physical altercations with the chairperson of P.A.W.S., Mr. Darren Kruger, relating to the aforementioned concerns. Mr. Venter escorted us to and around the kennels where certain animal welfare concerns and contraventions of the Animals Protection Act No 71 of 1962 were identified. The resident veterinarian was, we were advised, on leave. A veterinarian informed us of concern she had with regards to the welfare of the animals on the property, which were similar to our findings.
During our proactive visit we found that the dogs were being kept in overcrowded conditions, with three to six dogs being housed in a single kennel. The dogs were kept in dirty conditions and some were infested with external parasites. We found that the cats were also being kept in overcrowded conditions. We found extremely sick cats that had mucous coming from their eyes and nose and sneezing and some cats that were extremely underweight and lethargic. We also found that the shelter does not have quarantine facilities therefore healthy cats were being admitted into the infected cattery where the majority of cats were exhibiting signs of illness at the time of our visit. All of these findings constitute contraventions of the Animals Protection Act No 71 of 1962.
A warning was issued to P.A.W.S. based our findings and the contraventions noted in terms of Animals Protection Act No 71 of 1962. The reason for the warning being issued is to afford P.A.W.S. the opportunity to rectify the contraventions found.
On 18 October 2016 a follow up inspection was conducted at P.A.W.S. to ensure compliance with our warning issued. It was found that the warning was not complied with and that some of the contraventions mentioned above remained unchanged, even though the resident veterinarian, who was now back from leave, informed us that approximately 50 dogs and 30 cats were euthanased at the shelter since our last visit. A further warning was issued to P.A.W.S.
On 21 October 2016 we once again returned to the property of P.A.W.S. to conduct a follow-up inspection. We were denied access to the property of P.A.W.S. by Mr Andries Venter. Due to the serious contraventions found at P.A.W.S. and our concern for the animals on the property we went to the local Magistrates court to obtain a warrant to enter the property of P.A.W.S.
We were however denied a warrant by the Acting Senior Magistrate of the Potchefstroom Magistrates Court.
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