NSPCA E NEWSLETTER

E-NEWSLETTER

24 MARCH 2010

HOT IRON BRADING - IN THE FACE!

Visuals of this terrible practice have been placed on www.nspca.co.za as well as the full media release we issued on Friday 19 March. Having uncovered that branding animals with hot irons in the face had re-surfaced, we obtained the evidence, went public and will lay criminal charges. We know we have your full support. It is cruel and unjustifiable.

 

EASTERN CAPE TRIP - HUNTING DOGS

An inspector from the Education Unit assessed the situation in the Pedi district of the Eastern Cape where chicory and pineapple farmers were contracting local owners of pack hounds to hunt down bush pig that may damage their crops. It appears to be a lucrative business judging from the calibre of the scent and sight hounds observed. The local hunters use their dogs track and run down the bush pig and are paid cash for a successful kill plus they are allowed to keep the meat. Our concerns are for both predator and prey animals. This matter is ongoing with the priority being the seeking of humane alternate methods to deter bush pigs.

 

WILDLIFE UNIT

During the past week the Wildlife Unit joined the Liaison Unit in the Eastern Cape for routine inspections which were undertaken to two elephant-back safari operations, one near Grahamstown and another near East London. The one facility made the news headlines recently after a handler was gored by one of their elephants. The elephant involved has been moved to another facility. Further inspections in the East London area were undertaken at a predator breeding facility and at an animal "touch farm", a vervet monkey rehabilitation centre as well as the East London zoo.

In the Port Elizabeth area, visits were made to a crocodile and lion park, a raptor and reptile park, a private collector holding various reptiles, a veterinarian with a rehabilitation centre, Bay World Aquarium and Reptiles as well as the new seabird rehabilitation centre.

Two warnings were issued for unsatisfactory feed and water provisions and for the lack of a Performing Animals Protection Act license which applies to animals being exhibited.

 

PIGEON RACING

The major "one race" pigeon lofts in the Eastern Cape have been inspected and meetings were held with the relevant pigeon Unions, Clubs and Federations in order to discuss the upliftment of welfare standards as well as to address any potential Animals Protection Act contraventions. The lofts that were inspected ranged from basic to luxurious.

 

DOG RACING UPDATE

You may recall that public hearings took place in 2009. Animal care, welfare and rights groups stood united opposing the re-introduction of dog racing in South Africa. The findings of these hearings (which the N SPCA attended) were submitted and held over pending further investigations into gambling as a whole.

We have now been notified that a series of public hearings has been planned across the country on gambling. We believe that dog racing will be one of the aspects included. The N SPCA will attend these hearings to continue our opposition. Dog racing remains illegal in South Africa.

 

"REALITY" TV

A complaint has been received regarding footage on the SABC3 programme, the Amazing ( Northern Cape) Race. Contestants were chasing sheep and some of the sheep were grabbed by their back legs.

Sadly, we reiterate that "reality" television falls outside the current broadcasting code and does not require monitoring by a welfare organisation. We firmly believe that these programmes are not documentaries but staged entertainment and we continue to press for their inclusion in a broadcasting code. Please go to www.nspca.co.za under MEDIA RELEASES to see the statement we issued in February 2010 when at long last there was a ruling, albeit in Australia but we felt the precedent was set.

The NSPCA has worked on this issue, lobbying for the Code to widen and for the definition of "reality" to narrow to refer to genuine documentaries only.

 

MOZAMBIQUE

We are delighted to report that thanks to liaison with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) we are in touch with MAPS - Mozambique Animal Protection Society which is now registered as a non profit organisation. They told us, "There is so much work to be done here but we are focusing on the stray dog problem, promoting sterilisation and education. At present when we come across acts of animal cruelty we can only try to educate the offender but have no power to remove the animals or prosecute - this is our biggest stumbling block. As you pointed out, the lack of even the most basic veterinary care does not help the plight of the animals in Mozambique. We are working towards establishing mobile clinics which will be able visit rural areas to promote sterilization, vaccinations and primary animal care."

 

APPRECIATION

Our Training Unit is very grateful to Karen Corlett for very kindly donating her time and skills to us by converting old slides into usable photos on CD. Some of the material is very valuable as a training tool and will be used to on our Inspectors Training Courses.

This is a great example of how your skills and time can be used to help animals in a meaningful way.

We also take this opportunity to thank Anne van Vliet for the kind donation of an electric typewriter, following our newsletter appeal for one.

 

SOCCER SHIRTS

As a team-building exercise and to get right into the spirit of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, staff at the NSPCA have been given permission to work in soccer jerseys on Fridays - except when working in the field of course. We've had no success as yet in obtaining donated shirts. Readers are assured that we would never spend valued income on something like this - donations are FOR THE ANIMALS! If anyone can help with donated/sponsored soccer shirts, please let us know. Even if we only obtain a few it would be a great start.

Until next time

With best regards

Chris Kuch