NOT FOR SENSITIVE VIEWERS: Suffering in silence
Hundreds of donkeys in the Blood River, Makgofe and Mmotong areas outside Seshego are suffering in silence as they are viciously abused on a daily basis
POLOKWANE – Hundreds of donkeys in the Blood River, Makgofe and Mmotong areas outside Seshego are suffering in silence as they are viciously abused on a daily basis.
It is a sad irony that a donkey has the ability to suffer in silence. Obedient and trusting, with its doleful eyes and long ears, the donkey stoically carries on in pain when injured, hiding its suffering, yet authorities are aware of this cruel injustice and say they are doing what they can to prevent it.
In these neighbourhoods, there are at least 500 donkeys, many of which are used for everyday tasks, including delivering of building sand around and outside the villages, fetching water and firewood, transporting scrap metal to Polokwane, ploughing the fields during the rainy season and many other gruelling, back breaking tasks.
Most of the animals in pain are suffering from open wounds caused by poor harnessing or from foot and eye problems and are regularly beaten by their owners.
Last week, a lively argument almost became physically violent when an animal lover questioned a small group of young men from Blood River who were seen bludgeoning the burdened animals with a whip so cruelly as they forced them to sprint as fast as possible.
The animal advocate, Tlou Moloto from Moletjie area, appealed to the ruthless group not to whip the animals as they looked tired, malnourished and in a poor state of health.
During the verbal exchange, which took place near the Seshego hostel, Moloto asked the animal beaters: “Can’t you have mercy on the poor animals? The beating endured by this poor animal is totally unacceptable”.
The four young men seated in the cart did not take kindly to Moloto’s compassionate plea, replying rudely by saying: “Do you want to take the beating on behalf of these useless things? We can release them and substitute them with you so that we can teach you a lesson to shut your mouth and stop poking your nose in business that does not concern you”.
According to Moloko Manaka, speaking on behalf of SPCA Polokwane, the SPCA does regular outreach programmes in the area that promote animal welfare education and responsible pet ownership for the benefit of both animals and people.
“In many villages worldwide, donkeys are considered low-status animals that can be bought cheaply and then terribly abused. Animal rights groups believe that is the reason why they are forced to do more work than their small bodies can cope with,” Manaka explained.
She said lack of compassion is found in many spheres and is often perpetrated by those whose livelihoods actually depend on the animal.
“By improving the welfare standards of animals through our outreach projects, we contribute to the upliftment of impoverished communities,” she said.
PHOTO NOT FOR SENSITIVE VIEWERS
