Woman found guilty of keeping birds in ‘hell hole’
The SPCA Lower South Coast will be taking all necessary steps to ensure that no animals are kept under the care of Nita Dobson as per the court order.
Palm Beach resident Nita Dobson was recently found guilty of keeping more than 60 birds and animals under inhumane conditions.
Dobson, who was alleged to be rehabilitating wild birds, was found guilty of contravening Section 2(1)e of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962.
The case took more than a year of investigation and court appearances, but Inspector Jacob Maduna of the Lower South Coast (LSC) SPCA successfully concluded the animal cruelty case involving wild birds and other animals, including one exotic bird.
The magistrate ruled in favour of the LSC SPCA, finding Dobson guilty.
She was sentenced to either pay a fine of R6000 or two months’ imprisonment, a sentence wholly suspended for three years on the condition that no further contraventions of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 occur within the period.
Furthermore, in accordance with Section 3(1) (b) and Section 3(1) (c) of the Act, the court has permanently deprived Dobson of ownership of the animals listed in the charge sheet, and she has been declared unfit to own or be in charge of any animals for a period of three years.
In July 2023, the LSC inspectorate team was unprepared for what they discovered inside Dobson’s home.
The team entered the property under a warrant obtained through a magistrate and discovered more than 60 birds, including Egyptian geese, a Goffin cockatoo, rabbits and other species kept in cramped, filthy cages with no access to clean water.
Some geese were found inside cat carriers in squalid conditions, which clearly violated acceptable standards for animal care.
Inspector Mike Davis, manager of the LSC SPCA, welcomed the sentence and stated that this ruling sends a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated.
The Goffin cockatoo, an exotic bird, has been at the SPCA for the duration of the court case. “It will be moved to an NSPCA-accredited sanctuary where he will live out his life in a free flight aviary with his own kind,” said Davis.
The SPCA will be taking all necessary steps to ensure that no animals are kept under the care of Dobson as per the court order.
“If you witness or suspect any form of animal cruelty, neglect, or abuse, we urge you to report it immediately to the LSC SPCA. By taking action, you can help protect animals from suffering and make a difference in our community. Every report is valuable, and by speaking up, you can contribute to a safer, kinder environment for all our animals,” said Davis.
He thanks Maduna for heading this case and the rest of the inspectorate team and staff for their unwavering commitment to animal welfare.
To report concerns about animal welfare, contact the LSC SPCA on 039 3120962 or the emergency line on 083 2226355.
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