Twelve newborn puppies were found being sold for R80 each on the side of the road in Randburg on 19 January, prompting intervention from the Randburg SPCA.

The SPCA intervened after the puppies were discovered being sold at the intersection of Beyers Naudé Drive and Juice Street, highlighting ongoing concerns around irresponsible breeding and the failure to sterilise pets.

According to SPCA inspector Mkhumbi Bongani Khumalo, the organisation responded after a resident reported the man selling the puppies.

“Their eyes were still closed. They were too young, and we had no choice but to put them to sleep,” he said.

The SPCA said puppies at this age should still be with their mother, where they nurse, develop and receive protection. Instead, they were separated far too early and placed at serious risk.

The man selling the puppies told SPCA officers that the animals had been picked up on the side of the road. Inspectors then searched for the puppies’ mother but found no sign of her.

“We left our contact details with informal traders working near the intersection and asked them to report any sightings of the mother dog,” Bongani said.

He explained that the case reflects a wider problem linked to unsterilised pets.

“When dogs are not sterilised, unwanted litters are born. Puppies are sold cheaply, many are abandoned or neglected, shelters become overcrowded, and animals are euthanised when there is no space left,” he said.

He added that while the SPCA does not have the authority to stop people from selling animals on their own property, selling animals on the side of the road is not acceptable.

“In most cases, animals sold this way have no food or water and are kept in boxes that are not suitable for them,” he said.

The SPCA urged the public not to support puppy sellers, regardless of how sympathetic the situation may appear, and to report such cases immediately. The organisation also stressed that sterilisation is a key responsibility for pet owners and the most effective way to prevent further suffering.