The Inspectorate is presently focusing on checking on the many security companies that are springing up in Durban and surrounding districts. In one repetitive series of infringements against the Animal Protection Act, Jacqui seized four dogs – three Dobermanns and a cross German Shepherd - that were chained to a pole and left without water on a hot day at the back of an abandoned house in Clairwood. They were thin and neglected.

The owner was charged with cruelty to animals, and a docket opened. When the case went to court, he paid R1000 admission of guilt. Jacqui went back to check on the same house some weeks later. There was no one there, and no dogs on the property, but she had a feeling that all was not well and down another road nearby she discovered that the same man was operating with dogs confined in small box-like kennels at the back of the property. Although they had water, it was filthy and slimy.

She seized three dogs and once again charged their owner. Again, he paid admission of guilt when he appeared before the court, this time an amount of R500.
On the occasion of a further check-up, Jacqui found that he was operating from new premises and that there were wellmade kennels for the dogs. Everything was brand new, and there were eight new dogs in the kennels. Regular checks appeared to confirm that the dogs were now being properly housed and looked after. Then Jacqui did a spot check that turned up an even worse infringement. The dogs were in their kennels, but she heard a dog barking elsewhere and found a white German Shepherd shut up in a trailer with filthy food and water bowls and many faeces. The
animal was also filthy. It was extremely hot - about 40° - and the dog was clearly suffering extreme discomfort. It is hard to understand how so many people appear totally unable to put themselves in an animal’s position and care nothing when it suffers under appalling conditions.

Jacqui removed the dog. It was thin and the amount of faeces in the confined space indicated how long it had been confined in the trailer. The owner claimed that it had been shut up in the trailer because there was no kennel space. (See photographs Jacqui brought the dog back to the SPCA and also collected another dog that was running around on the premises. The owner was charged yet again and immediately arrested. The docket is currently with the prosecutor awaiting a trial date. Jacqui again asked that the owner be denied ownership of any animal in future.

She had asked for denial of ownership earlier, but had not been notified when the earlier hearings had taken place, and in the admission of guilt process this request had not been taken into consideration. She always wants to be present in court when cases come up so that she can give the full picture. She returned to the owner’s property some two weeks later and was able to enter because the security gate was open, but the owner saw her and sped away in his vehicle. She went to the kennels and found that only two dogs were being housed.

A brown dog seemed all right, but the black Labrador next to him had collapsed and was lying covered in flies. The owner was again taking no notice of the law and, with callous disregard, was continuing to neglect his animals. The Labrador was seized and taken to the SPCA, where it was found to be suffering from distemper and had to be put to sleep. Jacqui returned to fetch the other dog and was told that it had been taken to a vet for treatment. She was denied entrance to the property. Jacqui found that the dog had indeed been moved from the premises, but had not been taken to a vet – so the situation at the time of writing this report is that the owner is withholding evidence, which is a crime. When Jacqui tried to speak to him by phone, he slammed down the receiver. But she will not let this case go until it has been resolved. We shall be reporting on any further developments in our next issue.

Among the new security companies are some that are flyby- night. Companies are allowed to operate provided they have registered with the Security Offices Board. This Board is administrative in nature and checks on aspects like adherence to labour laws and proper record-keeping. It is not difficult to acquire a licence. The SPCA spot checks have confirmed that many recent companies are running their operations satisfactorily, but not all… A security company in Chatsworth near the Silverglen Nature Reserve had two dogs – one white and one black German Shepherd – and these two dogs were tied up to a car engine and were desperately trying to get shade for themselves in the blazing heat by crawling partly under nearby cars. (See
photographs.)

Jacqui released the animals, took several photographs, and spoke to the owner, who said the dogs were “ready to go home” and that their situation under the cars was temporary, but the evidence did not suggest temporariness, nor is temporariness any excuse for wrongful treatment of animals. The owner called the dogs, put them into his van and took them to his home. Their future treatment will be monitored by the SPCA Inspectorate. Should anything like this recur, he will be charged with cruelty to animals.

There are clearly a lot of problems in the security field, so much so that an inspector’s time could be fully taken up in this area alone. more reports »