Cape of Good Hope SPCA inspectors, together with the City of Cape Town’s Animal Control Unit Auxiliary Officers, intervened in two cases of cruelty involving the illegal and inhumane transport of sheep in Philippi on Sunday morning, reports Cape {town} Etc.
According to the animal welfare organisation, both trailers were in direct violation of the Animals Protection Act, with one trailer being unlicensed.
‘One trailer was dangerously overloaded with seven sheep, their legs tightly bound, piled on top of one another,’ said SPCA.
‘Another carried four sheep, also with legs bound – one with a severe, burst and infected eye injury. The stench was overwhelming’
While one of the drivers, who was also unlicensed, was fined by City’s Law Enforcement, the sheep were subsequently seized and are now in the safe care of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.
‘All of the animals were destined for religious slaughter, but cruelty is never justified, no matter the context. We have a legal and moral duty to act, and we will continue to do so. No animal deserves to suffer,’ SPCA added.
According to SPCA’s chief inspector Jaco Pieterse, one trailer of sheep was intended for qurbani and the other for cultural slaughtering, IOL reported.
‘One of the sheep had to be humanely destroyed because his condition was of such a state that medical intervention was not viable,’ the publication quoted Pieterse as saying.
‘The rest of the sheep were in acceptable condition, however, the concerns do not relate to their conditions per se, but rather the inhumane transportation.’
He added that the owners of the trailers were fined but not for animal cruelty – a matter that must be taken to court, where a magistrate will determine the outcome, which could be a fine of up to R40 000 or 12 months imprisonment.
According to the SPCA, transporting animals must comply with the SANS 1488:2014 ‘Humane Transportation of Livestock by Road’.
This requires:
- No overloading of trailers
- Non-slip flooring to prevent injury
- Vehicles suitable for the species
- Proper railings and loading ramps
- No tethering of animals
- Separate transport for different species
- Horned and dehorned animals must be transported separately
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Picture: Cape of Good Hope SPCA / Facebook
