This is another sad practice that is becoming all too common. Sometimes the pups do not even have their eyes open. There appears to be no specific municipal by-law to prevent this practice.

In an incident on the Tollgate bridge, Roshen and Jacqui came across a little puppy of about six to eight weeks old. When Roshen tried to apprehend the seller, he hung the puppy over the Tollgate bridge and threatened to drop it onto the highway below. Then he took to his heels and managed to get away.

   In another incident at Davenport Centre, a man had two puppies for sale. They were about three months old. When Jacqui tried to take them from him, he pushed her. Then the police arrived, and the man was charged with animal neglect. This story has a happy ending. The puppies were removed and a decent home was found for them.

On the offramp of M19 going towards Inanda Road in Springfield, small children were holding up two newborn pups for sale. Their eyes had not even opened. As soon as they saw Jacqui, they ran up into the bushes and down to the river before disappearing into the squatter camp.

It is a pity that there is no actual law in place to deal with the roadside selling of these helpless little creatures, but the SPCA does try to use the Animals Protection Act wherever pertinent. In Umbilo, three men with three pups of about four months of age, and in good condition, were reported by a passing motorist, but they said that the dogs belonged to them and that they were taking them home after a visit to the vet. Jacqui followed them. There was a taxi waiting for them, and they appeared to be familiar with the pups and to be handling them well..... more reports »