Woman to appear in court after she dispose dog, still alive, in a refuse bin in Pelican Park
WARNING: This blog contains graphic details and images.
It is understood the discovery was made when the City of
Cape Town’s Urban Waste Management team, conducted their weekly refuse
collection in Pelican Park on Thursday.
SUPPLIED: Cape of Good Hope SPCA According to the Cape of Goodhope SPCA, workers, while
emptying a dustbin into the truck, they found the dog, still alive, taped
inside a plastic bag.
‘’The officials took immediate action to save the dog from
potential harm from the truck machinery. The animal was found in a severe
state, with his legs bound together and face taped shut. The critical condition
of the dog showed clear signs of intentional abuse, as it bore multiple
injuries and bruises,’’ said Jaco Pieterse, Cape of Good Hope SPCA Chief
Inspector.
SUPPLIED: Cape of Good Hope SPCA Pieterse said upon discovery, a concerned neighbour came
forward to help the officials identify the dog’s residence. At the residence,
the accused individual took the dog back, pretending ignorance about the
incident and pretending to show concern for the dog and his injuries.
’The dog’s owner, on learning about the event from neighbours, sought CCTV footage from a business across his residence. The security of the business reviewed the CCTV footage. The CCTV footage revealed the horrifying truth: the owner’s girlfriend, now identified as the main accused, was seen throwing the already bound dog into the refuse bin. She returned later, brutally beating the dog for over an hour with the blunt end of a wooden pole,’’ he said.
SUPPLIED: Cape of Good Hope SPCA - Stick used to beat Scruffy, the dog.Pieterse said the Cape of Good Hope SPCA was alerted of the
incident, and Inspectors Jason Page and Werner Taljaard discovered the severely
injured dog, named Scruffy, with his face and body showing traumatic signs of
abuse.
‘’The footage left no doubt about the perpetrator. The accused confessed to her actions, justifying her cruelty as irritation with the dog, further inflamed when scolded by her partner when she tried to reprimand the dog.’’
“How the dog survived this torture is a miracle.” said Cape
of Good Hope SPCA Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse
The inspectors arrested the accused after gathering
evidence and witness statements, and took her to the Grassy Park police
station.
‘’Charges of animal cruelty have been laid against her in
terms of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 for the appalling torture of the
dog,’’ said Jaco Pieterse, Cape of Good Hope SPCA Chief Inspector.
Scruffy is currently under the care of Cape of Good Hope
SPCA Animal Hospital.
Dr. Rivona Ramnanan, who attended to Scruffy, shared that
the dog’s face and body were significantly swollen and bruised. Radiographs
confirmed soft tissue damage and a fracture to the right zygomatic arch.
“The nature of the injuries suggests blunt force trauma.
The force required to cause such a fracture is substantial.”
SUPPLIED: Cape of good Hope SPCA A non-profit organisation based in Khayelitsha, Mzananda Animal Clinic, condemned the incident. Speaking on Bush Radio on Tuesday, Marcelle Du Plessis, who is the fundraising and communications executive says there
Marcelle du Plessis, the Fundraising and Communications Executive at Mdzananda Animal Clinic, advised residents to take the pet to an animal shelter.
''It is unacceptable to throw an animal away into a dustbin. You are essentially condemning it to death, so definitely contact an animal welfare organisation - most of us has shelter facilities, so we will take the animal in and care for it, until we can find a new home, or if you have family or friends - so many people often do want a new pet, so even by putting the word out, you might find someone that want to adopt an animal from you.''
Done By: Mitchum George
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