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The Cape of Good Hope SPCA won the case against a dog owner, who was convicted of a criminal offence for contravening the Animal Protection Act after beating up and kicking his dog, Buddy, on CCTV footage at Agrimark in Durbanville.
Magistrate Davahna handed down judgement in favour of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in the State vs Schlechter matter, and Schlechter was denied custody of the three dogs confiscated by the SPCA in September 2021. The dogs received care to value of nearly R80 000 for medical and boarding expenses, while Buddy has been in the custody of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA for safekeeping since the incident.
In addition, Schlechter, who pleaded guilty, was declared unfit to own any animals for a period of three years. In his defense, Schlechter said: “The dogs are like my children and they are well taken care of. On the day the dog ran through Agrimark upsetting customers and made its way towards the main road and traffic. I understand what I did was wrong and I am sorry.”
According to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, the State prosecutor asked Schlechter why he treated the dog in that manner to which Schlechter replied “Nobody helped me and when I eventually got to the dog, I was stressed, angry and overwhelmed emotionally” but added that it was an isolated incident and it won’t happen again.
Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse was called to the stand and told the court “we are not here because the animals were in poor condition or kept in a bad state. We are here because the accused repeatedly hit the dog in the face with his fist, pinned him to the ground, picked him up by his hind legs, dropped and kicked the dog”.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA explains that sentences for a breach of the Animal Protection Act currently cannot exceed a prison term of 12 months (in terms of offences in respect of animals) and 2 years (in respect of animal fighting), and each of these sentences exists in the alternative to an unspecified fine alone.
Schlechter, who was found guilty on all charges, was sentenced with a fine of R6 000 or 12 months imprisonment wholly suspended for a period of five years on condition the accused is not convicted of cruelty to animals during the period of suspension.
Buddy is now available for adoption at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.
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Pictures: Cape of Good Hope SPCA
