HOT IRON BRANDING – IN THE FACE!
NSPCA STEPS IN
Heart-rending footage of calves as young as 6 months old having smouldering metal brands forced into their faces can be seen on www.nspca.co.za . The reaction of the young animals is clear as they bellow and recoil in pain. The NSPCA took the pitiful footage when an inspector came across this unacceptable practice that appears to have re-surfaced.
We ask how anyone who views this material can come to terms with the mindset of individuals who stand and watch the procedure or with the individuals who force the burning iron into the faces of small, helpless and trusting animals.
Please go to www.nspca.co.za to pick up the visual evidence. Material may be reproduced subject to the National Council of SPCAs being acknowledged as the source.
The justification from within “the industry” is that branding is a legal requirement. The NSPCA accepts this, stressing that freeze-branding is the method we prefer. Hot branding is bad enough and the NSPCA vehemently opposes this method. We accept that hot-iron branding is not illegal but we emphasise that branding the rump hind-quarter is far preferable to burning a young animal’s face.
The NSPCA voiced our objections to hot-iron branding when the Animal Identification Act of 2002 was under discussion.
We believe forcing smouldering pieces of metal into the faces of baby animals is tantamount to torture. Perpetrators have been cautioned.
The fact that it continues and with the supporting visual evidence, we believe the time has come to lay criminal charges and to pursue the matter vigorously through every legal channel available to us.
The media is advised that the matter is being forcefully pursued and that a docket against the perpetrators is in preparation.
The NSPCA is mindful of the issue of stock theft and the motivation for legally prescribing that animals must be identified. Our point is that there are alternatives to hot-iron branding in the face.
Nothing can justify suffering.
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