In the view of the Inspectorate, 2007 was one of the worst years yet in terms of widespread neglect of, and cruelty to, animals. Jacqui feels that one of the reasons could be the unprecedented growth in the city’s dog population. For this reason, she favours the return of the licensing of dogs: “If people have to pay for licences, they will be less likely to have so many dogs.”

People are increasingly taking on dogs for security reasons while they cannot afford to feed them or look after them properly.
“Some people,” Jacqui says, “will have several dogs, but will feed only one when their money runs out. The one they choose is usually the most aggressive one because it is the best watchdog. The others are left to fend for themselves, which is a dreadful situation. Dogs are very human-dependent.”

People are also reluctant to have their dogs sterilised because of the heavy costs involved. She would also like to see the number of dogs allowed on small suburban properties controlled.People committing acts of neglect or blatant cruelty are not, however, always those with the smallest incomes.

A high school teacher in Verulam paid a “plea-bargain” fine of R2000 for failing to get veterinary treatment for a dog whose paw had been crushed. The dog’s condition had deteriorated so much that it had to be put to sleep. The teacher will not be allowed to own a pet of any kind for two years. Why even then, one has to ask.

In December, a Bellair man was charged with failing to seek veterinary treatment after his dog had been left with a broken foreleg for a week. In the Verulam Magistrate’s Court, a chicken farmer is facing charges after he kept two German shepherds in small dark cages, letting them out only at night to guard his property. The cages were terribly hot and full of flies, and the dogs were without bedding. We mentioned this case earlier.

A Greenwood Park man has been charged after he left his dog chained up in a place where it was terrified out of its wits by fireworks on 9 December, and its paws and claws were badly injured in its wild efforts to escape. The dog was kept at the SPCA for a month, but remained so badly traumatised that it had to be put to sleep.
   As a result of the case of the kitten thrown onto a fire by children (badly burnt, it was rescued by its owner), Jacqui spoke to 1800 children at their school on the subject of cruelty to animals..... more reports »