Two horses were found to have not been fed in more than three days and their keeper slapped with a 24-hour notice at a house along the R28 near the Uncle Harry’s road house on 10 October.
This follows investigations by inspectors from the Randfontein SPCA, who received a tip off from a passers-by stating that the horses are in terrible condition.
The Herald together with officials from the SPCA decided to take to the site to investigate the allegations
The resident of the house in question emerged and immediately distanced himself from the horses stating that they are not his and belong to his son’s friend.
According to SPCA inspector Janette Muller, it is incorrect for someone to keep animals in their possession knowing very well that they cannot care for them.
“These horses haven’t been fed in four days and that on its own is a problem
“These horses do not even have adequate shelter and that is against the law,” says Muller.
She adds that cruelty of any nature will not be tolerated in Randfontein and those found to be abusing animals in any way will face the music.
“We will follow up with another inspection within the stipulated time frame.
“If the horses are found to be in the same state, we will confiscating them, and charge the owners with cruelty to animals,” says Muller.
According to a concerned resident who happened to notice the horses and the poor condition they are in while passing by the property, the Highveld Horsecare Unit had been contacted on numerous occasions to come and inspect the horses.
“They never even called back,” says the man, who wishes not to be named.
The man alleges that the owners of the horses should be taken to task.
“The plot where the horses were kept previously had been sold.
“The owners of the horses were apparently told on numerous occasions to collect their horses, but they ignored it, and as a result, the horses were left on the plot and eventually deteriorated badly due to malnourishment.
The Herald managed to track down the owners of the horses and they deny that the horses are being maltreated.
According to the owners of the horses, they left the horses in the care of a person on a smallholding in Randfontein.
“We found out that the horses were being neglected and immediately made a plan to remove them.
“We brought the horses to this property on Saturday 5 October and they have been well-fed ever since.”
The owner says that they plan to leave the horses at this premises for approximately three month until they recover from their current neglected state.
They will then be stalled at reputable stalls in Randfontein.
Watch this space for more as this story develops.
