 Our worst story in this issue involves a dog belonging to a man in a top profession, yes, in a top profession. No photograph can truly reveal the plight in which this dog was found.Bruno was a German shepherd, although no one could have told what breed he was from his pitiful state. The owner claimed he was a stray, but we have solid evidence to prove that this was not so. Moreover, Roshen Rupee, our Senior Insepctor, had to lift Bruno over the gate, so there was no way a stray could have entered the property.
The mange was so advanced that it had probably gone untreated for at least two to three years. “He was emaciated,”Jacqui said. “The skin over his whole body was dried up and crusted like a shell. His eyes were two little slits, and his skin so hard and crusted that his ears stood out stiffly to the sides of his head. He was bleeding from a crack in the skin near his eye.”
Although used to dealing with so much terrible abuse of animals, our Inspectorate is as angry as they can be over this case. The owner has been charged with cruelty to animals, and the Inspectorate is determined to get a conviction. Bruno was given a good meal at the SPCA, before being sedated to ease his suffering. He was later gently euthanased. Another loving creature brutalised, when all it ever wanted was to be loved and looked after.
Bruno’s plight was drawn to the attention of the SPCA by a concerned resident of Reservoir Hills, and Senior Inspector Roshen Rupee went to investigate. He charged the owner in terms of the Animals Protection Act. Jacqui points out that Bruno is just one of the latest examples of the growing problem in Durban of badly abused and neglected animals. The Durban and Coast SPCA is now dealing with thousands of cruelty cases every year. “We are seeing more and more cruelty cases and are opening new enquiries daily. The animal population of Durban seems to be growing,so there are many more animals in need of help.”
She sees the high level of crime as contributing to the cruelty problem, because more and more people are keeping dogs,and some of them are not animal lovers and see the animals merely as ‘things’ without feelings or needs. And this includes some owners in privileged suburban areas.
Mange has become endemic, and the Inspectorate is finding cases at all levels of society. There are two types of mange: sarcoptic and demodectic. Both are caused by parasites. The condition is entirely avoidable and can be easily and effectively treated by a mange dip in its early stages. Once it has reached a severe level, little can be done for the animal. more reports » |
