Feathers fly as SPCA swoops in to rescue chickens
SPCA manager Stacey Beck said the chickens were squashed together in wire cages on the back of a bakkie in the pouring rain.
A desperate call from a concerned motorist to the Lower South Coast SPCA had inspectors racing to the scene on the R61 (toll road) last Friday.
A vehicle transporting chickens was loaded incorrectly causing extreme stress and trauma to the birds.
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SPCA manager Stacey Beck said the chickens were squashed together in wire cages on the back of a bakkie in the pouring rain.
“A brave motorist forced the driver off the road and waited with him until the inspectors arrived and escorted him to the SPCA. Close to 70 soaking wet chickens were offloaded and placed in a safe, warm shelter. Those who were badly injured were humanely euthanized,” explained Ms Beck.
She said most of the chickens showed bad bruising and trauma from being badly handled as well as broken and cut-off toes from the cages.
“The owner will face the consequences of this terrible act of animal cruelty. There is no consideration for the well-being of chickens and, in most cases, they are kept in very poor conditions and slaughtered in the most inhumane manner imaginable.”
Ms Beck noted that many farm animals were subject to high levels of cruelty.
“They are sentient beings, capable of feeling pain and emotion just like cats and dogs and deserve to be protected and cared for like all other species.”
She urged the community to report any cases of animal cruelty to the Lower South Coast SPCA at 039 312 0962 or 083 2226355 or email info@lowersouthcoastspca.org.
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