Update

GEORGE NEWS - More than three years after a severely malnourished and emaciated pit bull bitch from New Dawn Park, Pacaltsdorp, was rescued by Garden Route SPCA manager, Salomé Bruyns, the case is scheduled to be sent to the senior public prosecutor by the end of this month.

In July this year the George Herald reported that the investigation was complete.

The dog, now named Riley, was found in July 2016 after the SPCA received a tip-off that Riley was tied to a chain at a house in New Dawn Park. "She must have escaped somehow as she was walking in the street when I arrived," said Bruyns.

Bruyns impounded Riley as a stray. According to her, Riley was extremely malnourished, underweight and scavenging for food. A case of animal cruelty was opened and shortly after Riley was rescued, she was adopted by the Coetsee family from George. 

"I've always wanted to rescue a dog and when I saw her I knew she belonged in our family," says Riley's human mom, Marga Coetsee. "Even though she looked like a skeleton at the time, we fell in love with her the moment we saw her."

An emaciated, terrified Riley when she arrived at the SPCA in 2016.

Man found guilty after skinning dog
The man who was arrested on a charge of animal cruelty on Monday 10 June in Thembalethu, was found guilty in the Thembalethu District Court on Wednesday 16 October.

Lindile Gibe (21) was arrested in connection with the brutal killing of a female dog. On the day of the incident, Garden Route SPCA (GRSPCA) field inspector Vanessa Lucas and GRSPCA general manager Salomé Bruyns arrived on the scene to find the dog dead and partially skinned. According to Bruyns there was a rope tied around the dog's right leg and the left leg had already been removed. The animal's throat was also slit. 

The dog's body and her eight puppies, who were still alive, were subsequently removed and taken to the SPCA. A case of animal cruelty was opened and the suspect was arrested the following day. The puppies have since all been adopted. 

The case was postponed for sentencing on 15 November while the state is still awaiting probation and correctional supervision reports. Gibe remains in custody until sentencing.