GQEBERHA – At five months old, Scoopy the puppy survived a horrific neck injury after being tethered with a string. Her owners have now been sentenced for animal cruelty and declared unfit to possess animals for 10 years.

Her owners have been sentenced to 24 months’ correctional supervision and declared unfit to possess animals for 10 years.

When Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) inspector Clayton Campher found Scoopy in Kwanoxolo, he was shocked by the extent of her injuries.

“I picked up the puppy, brick and the string tied in a noose and kept thinking, ‘this can’t be, this can’t be’,” Campher said.

“In my 16 years at AACL, I have seen many dog neck injuries due to tethering, but never to the extent of near decapitation.”

Owners sentenced for animal cruelty

The puppy’s owners Nobulali Gantsha and Phindile Mazantsi were sentenced by Gelvandale Magistrate’s Court magistrate Abrie Landman on 28 August after pleading guilty to two counts each of contravening sections 2(1)(b) and 2(1)(e) of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962.

The court also imposed a 12-month prison sentence on each accused, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that they are not convicted during that period of another offence involving cruelty to an animal in contravention of section 2 or 2A of the Act.

As part of their correctional supervision, Gantsha and Mazantsi are subject to house detention and must perform at least 16 hours of unpaid community service each month at SAPS Kwadwesi.

 They must also attend programmes directed by the Department of Correctional Services, including life-skills and anger-management programmes.

The court deprived both accused of ownership of Scoopy and placed her in the permanent care of the AACL.

The case began after an anonymous member of the Kwanoxolo community contacted the AACL on 6 March 2025. Scoopy was then a five-month-old Africanis cross puppy.

She was rushed to the AACL Clinic, where she underwent surgery for her severely injured neck.

Gantsha and Mazantsi admitted during their guilty pleas on 25 February that they had unlawfully and intentionally tethered or secured Scoopy with string or similar material.

They also admitted that, after noticing her neck injuries, they failed to obtain veterinary attention because they were “busy with the children and other things”.

A long road to recovery for Scoopy

Veterinarian Dr Bronwyn Thomen said Scoopy endured considerable pain and suffering while tethered by the neck.

“The restriction of movement and resulting injury was not instantaneous and would have taken weeks to reach the severity that it did,” Thomen said.

She said this would have caused “a great deal of mental and physical anguish” while Scoopy attempted basic functions such as swallowing, barking, moving and resting.

Although Scoopy survived, the AACL said she continues to require rehabilitation and behavioural training.

AACL legal representative Karien van Schalkwyk said Scoopy had been left fearful of people and other animals after being tethered in isolation.

“She still displays trauma and fear of humans and needs further training and behavioural modification,” van Schalkwyk said.

The AACL thanked NPA representative Janice Hitzeroth for giving a voice to Scoopy during the case and urged members of the public to report suspected animal cruelty.

“For Scoopy, one anonymous call meant the difference between life and death,” the AACL said.

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