- Three chickens were saved from drowning at Bloubergstrand by an alert bystander and the swift action of the Table View CPF and SPCA.
- The birds, bound at the legs and placed in the ocean as part of an alleged ritual cleansing ceremony, were rescued and treated at a veterinary clinic.
- Two women were arrested and charged with animal cruelty following the incident.
Three chickens have been saved from a horrific act of cruelty recently, thanks to the vigilance of an alert bystander and the swift intervention of a Table View Community Policing Forum (CPF) representative.
The incident also led to the arrest of two women on charges of animal cruelty.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA says a bystander noticed the chickens with their legs bound being placed in the ocean in Bloubergstrand just beyond the shoreline, where the waves repeatedly broke over them.
ALSO READ | Animal rituals the leading theory behind mystery of washed up animals on beaches around Cape Town
“The birds were enduring a slow and agonising drowning, allegedly as part of a ritual cleansing ceremony,” says the SPCA in a statement.
TygerBurger reported last year (January and February 2023) of animal rituals being the leading theory behind the mystery of washed-up animals on beaches around Cape Town.
In February 2023 a dead chicken was found with its feet bound with plastic on Melkbosstrand Beach. The mystery led to “animal trafficking” and “animal rituals”.
The first discovery was made at Sunset Beach by surfer Alex Aitkenhead where he came across a washed up aardvark (ant bear) in January 2023.
Rescue
Inspector Rowan Davids of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA responded immediately to reports of the chickens with their legs bound, seizing the three broiler hens.
“Two of the chickens were on the brink of death. The chickens were rushed to the nearest veterinary clinic, where emergency first-aid was administered,” Davids says.
The two most critical chickens were revived and stabilised, and then all three were transported to the SPCA’s animal hospital. At the hospital their feathers were dried, and they were placed next to a warm heater on a blanket pile to recover.
ALSO READ | Red flag raised as more dead non-aquatic animals mysteriously wash ashore on Cape Town’s beaches
“There is a very real threat of pneumonia developing, so they remain in our hospital for ongoing care. While South Africa’s Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion, all practices must still comply with the law. The Animals Protection Act No. 71 of 1962 and the City of Cape Town By-Laws regulate the humane treatment of animals, even in religious contexts. It is with respect to the constitution and the beliefs of all South Africans that the SPCA oversees the practise of religious slaughter that forms part of many belief systems, to ensure that it complies with the law.
Arrest
The two women involved in the incident were arrested and charged with animal cruelty at the Table View Police Station.
“We appreciate, as always, the vigilance of the public, the willingness of CPF and the support of SAPS in matters pertaining to animal cruelty,” the SPCA says.
