- On Tuesday 21 November the Monte Vista Plattekloof Glen Neighbourhood Watch reported that puppies had been dumped in Monte Vista Boulevard.
- The neighbourhood watch asked residents in the community for information to urgently reach out while attempts were made to find their mother.
- The pups were apparently separated from their mother who was found the following day (Wednesday 22 November) by community members.
The public is urged to report animals that have been abandoned by their owners, following such an incident recently in Monte Vista.
Last week on Tuesday 21 November the Monte Vista Plattekloof Glen Neighbourhood Watch reported that puppies had been dumped in Monte Vista Boulevard.
The neighbourhood watch asked residents in the community for information to urgently reach out while attempts were made to find their mother.
Deon Oosthuizen, vice-chair, said their organisation was able to get enough information with the help of the community and Tygerdal Neighbourhood Watch, which was passed on to law enforcement and the Cape of Good Hope Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
He said the SPCA were to follow up on the information, which was sent to their inspectors.
“A white hatch-back dropped off the mother with her pups at a property in Monte Vista Boulevard I believe. This happened around 20:00 and was witnessed by a member of the public. The pups were taken to a foster home and later to an animal sanctuary,” Oosthuizen said.
The pups were apparently separated from their mother who was found the following day (Wednesday 22 November) by community members.
“It was a tremendous community effort from residents, our neighbourhood watch, Tygerdal and PWP Neighbourhood Watch, trying to locate the mother and assisting with information since the Tuesday,” Oosthuizen said.
He said he hopes the responsible person is caught and brought before a court of law. “No animal deserves to be dumped like this, without a care in the world of what will happen to them. We are fortunate to have such a good community that does not hesitate to help,” he said.
The SPCA said it will appreciate the assistance of the public in looking out for animals that may have been abandoned, either in their own yards or in public places. The public should be alert and look inside any closed boxes or containers, Belinda Abraham, communications manager at the SPCA, told TygerBurger.
It is a criminal offense in terms of the Animals Protection Act No. 71 of 1962 for any person to abandon an animal and those found guilty of the offense could be sentenced to a fine of R40 000 and/or 12 months imprisonment, Abraham said.
“At this time of the year, we experience significant reports of animal abandonment, as owners leave to spend the festive season in other provinces without making arrangements for their family pets or leaving them in the hands of irresponsible individuals who do not ensure they have the basics of care like access to food, water and shelter from the heat. It is also the time of the year when we see an abundance of unwanted kittens being born and we have already responded to reports of kittens being abandoned in sealed boxes and containers in open fields,” Abraham said.
To report abandoned animals, call 021 700 4158/9 or 083 326 1604 (after hours). Reports can also be made online via the “report cruelty” link on the SPCA website, www.capespca.co.za. All reports can be made anonymously.
