SPCA says justice served in Mariannhill animal cruelty case
A Mariannhill woman has been slapped with a fine of R4 000, after leaving her ailing 11-year-old dog to suffer without veterinary care for months.
The Kloof and Highway SPCA, Inspector Petros Simamane says their teams stumbled upon the elderly Dobermann Cross - named Donna - while doing routine inspections in the Nagina area, back in 2015.
Simamane says She was so weak that she couldn’t lift her head and her body was covered in open wounds and parasites.
When asked why she hadn’t taken her dog to the vet or contacted the SPCA, Donna’s owner allegedly put it down to money.
The owner then signed Donna over to the SPCA as an unwanted animal.
The Dobermann Cross was humanely euthanized after being diagnosed with advanced kidney disease.
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Donna’s owner appeared in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court this week and pleaded guilty to animal cruelty.
She was given the choice of paying a fine or serving six months in prison, with three months suspended for five years.
She was also declared unfit to be in possession of any animal for three years. The SPCA has labelled the sentence a victory and justice for Donna.