Animal shelters battle the surge of animal cruelty
More than 130 cases of animal cruelty cases in Tshwane were reported in September alone, with 98 more cases already documented in October.
An alarming 134 cases of animal cruelty in Tshwane were reported in September alone, and 98 have already documented in October.
So says Jeanine Niemann-Greatorex of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
She said this does not include rescues and emergencies.
“This disturbing trend underscores the urgent need for community awareness and action,” said Niemann-Greatorex.
She recalled one recent success story of a young puppy whose tail was illegally docked.
She said they rescued the dog and opened a case against the owner.
“After the story was shared on Facebook, a family came forward to adopt the puppy, and it is now receiving treatment at Olympus Animal Hospital,” she said.
Niemann-Greatorex said the most common forms of animal cruelty in Pretoria are neglect, caging and abandonement.
She added that the SPCA investigates and prosecutes animal cruelty cases when a complaint is lodged.
Initially, they focus on educating the animal’s owner.
“If the situation still doesn’t improve, we request a warrant from the magistrate to seize the animal, usually in the presence of the police,” she said.
Niemann-Greatorex said a docket is then opened and handed over to the court for potential prosecution.
“Penalties are outlined in the Animal Protection Act 71 of 1962, but they vary depending on the specific case and the sentencing handed down by the Magistrate.”
The SPCA has various resources, including temporary shelters, medical care and rehabilitation services for rescued animals.
They also work with veterinarians to provide care.
Niemann-Greatorex urged the public to report animal cruelty to the SPCA.
“All calls are kept anonymous,” she said.
“People should provide the address, photographic or video evidence, if available, a detailed description of the situation, and the contact details of the owner if known.”
Niemann-Greatorex advised complainants not to post to social media or WhatsApp groups to avoid compromising the investigation.
“We prioritise education before prosecution by informing owners when attending to complaints,” she said.
To raise the awareness of animal cruelty, Niemann-Greatorex said they visit schools to educate children and share information through their social media platforms.
She said locals must be vigilant and report any animal cruelty they witness.
Soshanguve Animal Shelter cares for around 60 dogs, occasionally cats and other animals.
The shelter’s primary focus is on rescuing stray, abandoned, and abused dogs.
The owner of the shelter, Teboho Ramedi said some dogs experience behavioural issues from trauma or neglect.
To address behavioural or emotional issues in animals, Maredi works closely with his team and volunteers to provide the animals with care and socialisation.
“We try, to create a stable environment, offering them time to adjust, along with regular feeding, exercise, and positive reinforcement,” he said.
He said they work closely with local authorities to address cases of animal cruelty.
“This includes reporting cases of abuse or neglect and following up on investigations with the police and animal control officers,” stated Ramedi.
They also conduct home checks to ensure the environment is safe and appropriate for the animals being adopted.
Ramedi said signs of animal cruelty or neglect include extreme thinness, untreated injuries, poor living conditions, fearfulness, or aggressive behaviour.
“Animals that are constantly chained, left outside without shelter or appear malnourished are likely victims of neglect or cruelty,” he added.
He cautioned that communities need to understand the importance of treating animals with compassion and the legal consequences of cruelty.
Wollies Animal Shelter in the east shelters over 1 000 animals.
Owner, Cilla Trexler said people often think shelters only take in stray animals, not realising they also deal with surrenders and rescues from cruelty cases.
She stated that people can surrender their animals at their shelter if they cannot take care of them any more.
To promote animal welfare, Trexler hosts workshops, seminars, and outreach programmes to educate the community about responsible pet ownership, animal care, and the signs of cruelty.
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