GEORGE NEWS - Last week, Garden Route SPCA (GRSPCA) inspectors were yet again confronted with the absolute horror of animal abuse when pet owners took the "easy way out" to get rid of their dogs.
On Wednesday 17 June a passer-by found four tiny black and white puppies dumped in a black bag in a field near The Skeem in Blanco.
Inspector Colleen Thysse immediately acted on the call and dashed off to fetch them.
"Their umbilical cords were still attached when Colleen collected them, so they couldn't have been more than a couple of days old. I think we found them just in time. Abandonment of animals is illegal and if we can find the person who dumped the puppies, we can have him or her arrested," said GRSPCA manager Salomé Bruyns.
The following day Thysse and some of her colleagues went back to the area were the pups were found to try and locate the mother, but unfortunately there was no trace of her.
The puppies are currently being hand-raised and the SPCA is in desperate need of Milko-Pup, a substitute for the milk puppies get from their mothers.
"Firstly I want to thank everyone who has donated towards the puppies already," said Bruyns. "Without our loyal supporters we won't be able to do what we do. However, the pups still have a long way to go, so donations towards puppy milk or food would be greatly appreciated."
Death penalty for being pregnant
The following day, branch coordinator of the Mossel Bay branch, inspector Gerda Reynders, was called out. "A man came to our offices on Thursday morning and told us about a dog hanging in a tree," she said.
When she arrived at the scene in an open field behind a scrapyard close to their offices, Reynders discovered a highly pregnant black and brown dog hanging from a rope tied to a tree branch. "It was already smelling when we arrived there, so she had to have been hanging there for a couple of days already," said Reynders.
GRSPCA manager Salomé Bruyns told George Herald this week that they want to offer a reward for any information that could lead to finding whoever is responsible for this cruel act.
"What has happened to this dog is against the law and punishable in court. We beg people to have their animals sterilised, we will gladly assist. If you don't want your pet anymore, or can't afford to keep it, please contact your nearest SPCA instead of going to extremes. This entire ordeal could've been avoided with one phone call. We want justice for the dog and her puppies who died such a horrible death. We would like to put out a reward, but we need your support to offer a decent reward for information leading to a successful arrest."
Anyone with information regarding the incidents is asked to contact the GRSPCA on 044 878 1990 (George) or 044 693 0824 (Mossel Bay). After hours they can be reached on 082 378 7384.
Related article: Death penalty for pregnant dog
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