Report Cruelty
What is Animal Cruelty?
Cruelty to animals is the deliberate and malicious infliction of physical or mental harm resulting in suffering, which could be fear, pain, discomfort, disease, injury or behavioural distress.
Examples include:
Not providing clean water and sufficient nutritious food.
Abandoning an animal.
Leaving an animal to suffer if it is sick or hurt.
Leaving an animal in a vehicle, especially in hot weather.
Using firecrackers near animals.
Hitting or kicking an animal.
Keeping an animal in dirty and unhealthy conditions.
Dogfighting and cockfighting.
Overloading cart horses and donkeys.
Poor handling and transportation of farm animals.
Chaining dogs.
What You Should Do in Cruelty Cases
Inform the SPCA immediately.
Please remember to include the following information: Date, time and address where the offence took place. Clear description of the animal and what you saw. Contact details of the person(s) involved in the cruelty. Contact details of any witnesses. Your name, address and telephone number. (This is needed for record purposes and to inform you of the results of our investigation)
Intervene if possible
Try and stop the cruelty, only if you will not endanger yourself and others.
Take photographic evidence
Take photographs of the cruelty if it is safe to do so.
Confidentiality
Remember that we treat all reports confidentially, but you can report anonymously if you prefer. Contact Tshwane SPCA
How does the SPCA respond to cruelty reports?
When we receive information on a case of animal cruelty, a trained inspector visits the scene and investigates the complaint or report. They analyse the situation and then take the appropriate action, which could include the following:
Issuing a warning to the owner to take corrective action, and a follow-up visit to check on the animal’s welfare.
Removing the animal to our Animal Care Centre, and in some circumstances convincing the owner to surrender the animal for adoption by a caring person.
In cases of outright abuse or wilful neglect, the inspector will seize the animal and instigate criminal charges against the owner.