An SPCA collection officer was robbed at gunpoint in Blikkiesdorp in Delft while coming to the aid of two sick puppies.
Officer Kurt Aarendse was robbed at around 20:30 on the evening of Sunday 11 February while he was responding to a call of three critically ill puppies.
Good Hope SPCA spokesperson, Belinda Abraham, says that with the barrel of a gun in his mouth, Aarendse was robbed not only of his SPCA-issued cellphone, but also his pride and sense of safety.
“This is the second time Kurt has been robbed while trying to get to the aid of an animal in distress, and sadly his experience is not an isolated incident,” says Abraham.
She adds that by the time Aarendse arrived on the scene, one of the puppies had already died.
“The remaining critically ill puppies were in the van when he was robbed and he was unable to go directly to the police station.
“Many of our staff members have fallen victim to crime in the line of duty. Our vehicles have been stoned, our mobile clinics have been robbed, there have been several smash-and-grab incidents, our premises have been broken into and our staff members are no strangers to the threat of physical harm by individuals brandishing guns or knives.”
Abraham says that Aarendse has not been able to report the robbery to the police as he is too afraid to return to the area.
“It is a sad reality that certain individuals fail to see the value of the work done by the SPCA within their communities, and an even sadder reality that an incredibly hard job is made so much harder because staff are no longer dealing with only the trauma of the animal cruelty they are witness to.”
She reiterates that in spite of this, their inspectorate continues to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To report an animal in distress, call 0217004158/9 during office hours or 083 326 1604 after hours.
