All inspectors were on duty over Diwali, and the firework injuries, losses and deaths of animals were a nightmare. Animals victims poured in, and soon the 37 kennels in C block were full.
Few of these animals have been owner-claimed. Do the lives of their pets mean so little to so many people?

Strays were collected all over the place, running madly, wildly afraid. One was a little Maltese cowering against a neighbour’s fence. The neighbour couldn’t take it in because she had two big dogs of her own.

In another case, a dog, a cross German Shepherd, had been tied up and was absolutely frantic. The owners were not at home. The gates had been left open, and our inspectors seized the animal for its own protection and phoned the owners the following day. They were very irate and claimed to have tranquillised the dog, but there was no sign of this and it was in serious danger of strangling itself. It was on a running chain, and the danger was that it would attempt to jump over the wall.The SPCA will keep an eye on it in future and ensure that it is taken for walks and treated properly.

A greyhound was being walked on a leash by its owners in Cato Manor when a loud bang went off. The terrified dog leapt in front of a car and was dead by the time the SPCA arrived to investigate. Was this dog’s life worth no more than one stupid (apparently exhilarating?) bang?

A number of dogs came into sanctuary at the owners’ request because they became uncontrollable at the sound of the bombardment or were too old and nervous to handle the excruciating noise. Two old dogs died of heart attacks in their gardens and were brought in for cremation.

Several dogs were hit by vehicles. Some were treated at our hospital. Others had spinal and other serious injuries and had to be euthanased.

This is our ‘sad season’, not because our climate becomes dark and gloomy as it does in the far northern hemisphere, but because selfish people who don’t care about the consequences randomly let off their fire crackers and their big bombs and keep at it for hours. And the fireworks don’t end in October and November. Instead, they build up to the New Year crescendo. We can’t wait for the new laws to take effect. Please respond to the Council with your positive comments. ... more reports »