A Bloemfontein resident will never again be able to keep an animal as a pet after he was convicted on several counts for leaving his dogs in a vehicle to die.
Marco Terblanche was sentenced on Friday, 13 October, in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court for an incident that took place from 10 to 15 October 2021.
Inspector Werner Botha of the Bloemfontein SPCA responded to a call of two dachshunds trapped inside a vehicle at 64 Charles Street, in front of the Municipal Library. When responding to the call on Friday, 15 October, it became evident that the dogs inside the vehicle had died.
Members of the public informed Botha that the dogs had been trapped in the vehicle since 10 October in temperatures reaching 35°C.
During a clinical evaluation, it was found that the dogs succumbed to severe dehydration and heat stroke while trapped in the car.
Terblanche left the dogs in the vehicle on Sunday, 10 October 2021, after consuming a large amount of alcohol and becoming intoxicated. As a result of his intoxication, he could not remember where the vehicle with the dogs was parked, leading to the two dachshunds succumbing to the conditions inside the vehicle.
Botha proceeded to open a case of animal cruelty against Terblanche.
On Friday, Terblanche was found guilty on five counts of animal cruelty under the Animal Protection Act 71 of 1962.
Acting magistrate Pieter Peyper found Terblanche unfit to own or be in charge of any animal for the rest of his life.
He was further sentenced to 36 months of correctional supervision, of which six months of direct imprisonment was suspended on condition that all aspects of the correctional supervision are adhered to.
He was also ordered to do more than 300 hours of community service at the Bloemfontein SPCA.
“The Bloemfontein SPCA celebrates the justice that was served to these tortured dachshunds,” Botha said.
“The Bloemfontein SPCA is pleased that lifelong denial of ownership of any animal is granted. The sentencing of life-long denial of ownership is a tremendous victory for animal welfare legislation in South Africa.”
Botha said this sentence is often not granted and now sets a precedent in place that will further guide the judicial system in sentencing offenders.
“I feel relieved that after all this time, justice has finally been served for those two dogs. I vividly remember the paw prints and scratches against the windows as they tried to escape. The dogs tried to find shelter out of the 35 °C heat by hiding behind a TV and a portrait in the car. I can’t think of a crueler way to die, than by being trapped in a warm car without food and water, with no way to escape. Slowly dying after five days must be terrifying,” Botha said.
State Prosecutor Lareece Visagie officiated in the case against Terblanche.
