MySandton.co.za is your community website for the area and surrounds.
Register now! You get a free blog! So you can write what you want about anything you want. You can also post comments about stories, blogs, pictures - almost everything on the site - without having to constantly fill in your details! You can also choose to receive our email newsletter! Register Now!
Dog left for dead in wealthy suburb property
On Saturday December 26, 2009 the Sandton SPCA received a report about a dead dog on a property in Oaklands, a northern suburb of Johannesburg.
The dog was suspected to be deceased as the complainant had observed its lifeless body and a smell emanating from the property. However on arrival Sandton SPCA inspector Stephen Maila observed the dog which was seen breathing and its eyes open.
Inspector Maila gained entry to the property with the intervention of officers from the Norwood Police Station. The property was well secured with high walls and electric fencing. The electric fencing was not active as the property had no electricity.
Once Inspector Maila entered the property he noticed there was no food available and water bowls were only partially filled due to the recent thunder storms. The dog however was in appalling condition and close to death.
The dog was suspected to be a Chow cross had a heavily matted coat and severely emaciated body. In light of its extreme suffering Inspector Maila had no choice but to humanely euthanize the animal on-site and end its agony.
The Sandton SPCA will be laying charges against the dogs owners under the Animal Protection Act for neglect and abandonment.
“If you suspect animal cruelty, neglect or abandonment of animals in your neighbourhood please contact your local SPCA” said Candice Segal of Sandton SPCA: 011-444-7730/1/2.
- send to friend
These people should be banned from owning animals.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 30/12/2009 - 10:28.
These people should be banned from Ever Owning any other animal again
response
Submitted by Sandton SPCA (not verified) on Wed, 30/12/2009 - 14:41.
In response to anonymous, the Sandton SPCA will be laying charges and once judgement is made it is hoped the owner will be prohibited from owning anymore animals.
I hope these b@astards are named and shamed!
Submitted by Amanda (not verified) on Wed, 30/12/2009 - 12:26.
I hope the b@astards that left this poor animal are named and shamed in every single newspaper in the country!
As for putting the dog down immediately, surely some effort could have been made to see if the dog could be saved? The poor thing had managed to cling to life and certainly deserved a chance, I would gladly have donated towards his medical care. Unlike the SPCA's I witnessed in the US, our SPCA's are far too quick to put animals down without having consulted a qualified veterinarian. I rescued a dog from the side of the road who was in far worse condition, having been hit by a car as well as being severely emaciated. With some veterinary care and tlc she made a full recovery and became a member of our family for 8 years before passing on peacefully.
@Amanda
Submitted by Tal (not verified) on Wed, 30/12/2009 - 15:33.
Hi Amanda,
I also initially felt upset that this dog was not saved since it did cling on for so long but then I thought about the financial reality of the situation.
The cost to rehabilitate this dog would be far greater than the cost of temporarily homing dozens of dogs before they get adopted.
The sad reality is that the SPCA does not have funds to medically rescue every single animal, I am sure they would love to do it. I am sure you will agree with me that the people working for the SPCA are animal lovers themselves and do not get any pleasure in putting down animals. There mandate is to make sure that animals do not suffer.
It is great that you are willing to donate to the SPCA when you read such a terrible story, why not donate to the SPCA right now? I am going to do the same.
Alot of people complain about the SPCA putting dogs down yet I am sure alot of them do not contribute to the bottom line and that is money.
I hope you dont find my reply accusatory, quite the opposite - I found your post very endearing and heartfelt.
Response to Amanda
Submitted by Sandton SPCA (not verified) on Wed, 30/12/2009 - 15:05.
As an SPCA our responsibility is the prevention of cruelty and suffering to animals. Unfortunately in some cases of cruelty we encounter neglect that is so acute that it is truly a kinder option to humanely euthanize than to let the animal suffer further. In the case of the Chow cross the dog was so close to death, its body organs so starved of nurishment it did not have the strength to even make it to a vet. The decision was not taken lightly but it was clear in this case that the most humane option was to euthanize.
Further the SPCA relies on the help of the public to report neglect and cruelty in their neighbourhoods so that this type of situation does not occur. People who cannot or will not give their pets even basic care must take responsibility for their actions, hand over the animals to their local SPCA and rather not own any animals in the future.
The life of this dog should
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 31/12/2009 - 19:35.
The life of this dog should have been fought for as he obviously was hanging on for a reason. I agree with many of the sentiments above especially the view that our SPCAs put down too quickly. While some branches of SPCAs may try harder, most of the ones I've come into contact with simply don't try at all. I have personal experience of animals not even been checked for a microchip when coming in to some of them - this is through friends and on being in the branch and seeing people complaining that their dog or cat is microchipped and they weren't contacted. My view is that it's high time our SPCA's started working with the no-kill shelters and the public to extend the lives of animals that end up at SPCAs. No matter their views on no-kill shelters, isn't the ultimate goal of both organisations supposed to be the animals' welfare? I see programs on Animal Planet of US SPCAs and humane societies where they fight tooth and nail to save animals that haven't even been put up for adoption yet. They operate and have them under veterinary care BEFORE a home is found for that animal. To my knowledge, that does not happen here. In addition, they work with the public and make use of foster care for animals, whether kittens, puppies or even adults that have been abused or undergone surgery. The day I see our SPCAs working with foster carers and no-kill shelter for the ultimate good of animals will be the day I will acknowledge their work. And regarding the caretakers of this poor dog, I hope at the very least that the SPCA DO find them and DO charge them with animal cruelty. They should pay for what they've done.
