Local animal rescue organisations are on the hunt for the men who allegedly dumped three dogs on the R300 highway near Delft on Friday.
A local animal rescuer Annatjie Breytenbach was travelling on the R300 after having fetched a foster puppy in Macassar.
“We saw the vehicle standing on the side of the road with three men in it, then we saw the animals, three big dogs running from the vehicle towards an opening that leads to the informal settlement. As we passed the vehicle we tried to wave them down but they sped away from us. My son then started following them when they suddenly crossed four lanes in front of us to slip onto the next on-ramp,” she says.
She did however manage to get a photo of the vehicle and registration number that she posted on social media on Friday afternoon.
Animal activists got wind of it and the post spread like wild fire across Cape Town over the weekend in an attempt to track down the offenders.
It was later ascertained that two of the dogs were hit by cars and killed and the one that ran off is still to be found.
The incident was reported to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, City law enforcement and the police who have started an investigation.
Brackenfell Animal activist and founder of Grace Animal Sanctuary Caron Burger says all avenues will be explored to trace the perpetrators.
The SPCA is reportedly being assisted by the City of Cape Town in perusing DSTV camera footage along the highway on the day in question.
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Burger, who runs a shelter in Kraaifontein and Delft, says animal abandonment is unacceptable.
“With so much help around it is so unnecessary and cruel to dump animals. Yet so many people think it‘s an easier alternative,” she says.
Another activist, Mariechen du Toit, says she is besides herself having heard of this incident.
“It is very upsetting. I hope these people are caught and receive the punishment they deserve. People who do this have no feeling for animals,” she says.
Spokesperson for the SPCA Belinda Abrahams says to abandon any animals in any condition where they can come to harm is a contravention of the Animals Protection Act, and if caught the perpetrators will face penalties of up to R40 000 or a 12-month prison sentence,” she says.
SPCA chief inspector Jaco Pieterse adds that dumping animals is not only illegal but also heartless and cruel.
“This is a shocking case and while we appreciate the outrage the incident has caused, we encourage all involved to refrain from acting outside of the law or in a way that infringes on an individual’s constitutional rights. This can compromise this case. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA is awaiting eye-witness reports and with sufficient evidence will be able to, by working within the law, open a criminal case against the accused to ensure that justice is served.”
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA urges anyone with information about the abandonment / dumping of these dogs to call them on 021 700 4158/9 during office hours or 083 326 1604 after hours.
