PLEASE PRINT THIS - AND TAKE A COPY TO YOUR LOCAL POLICE STATION AND/OR DISTRIBUTE FAR AND WIDE!

Hi Everyone.

People often become very disolusioned with the animal welfare situation in this country. My view is that "the buck stops with each and every individual person". We CAN make a difference, all we need to do is to be a little more proactive.

Having had several conversations with some of our SAPS public servants - I was horrified to find out that most have little or no knowledge of the offences under the Animal Protection Act. So I came up with a PLAN!

If each police station has a copy on their notice board on at the front desk, it would help our officers to do their job. Now I am not expecting the police to become animal cops - Even I am not so naieve to realise that there is some other rather important crime prevention needed in SA. However, as it is an "offence" NOT to report animal abuse - in my humble opinion it then also becomes the SAPS's job to INTERVENE until an animal protection officer or inspector is informed or takes over! 

So - if everyone forwards a copy of the Animal Protection Act to their entire mailing list. And everyone prints a copy and puts it up at their local police station - has a friendly chat with the charge office staff - we can make a HUGE difference within the scope of the law!

I have also attached an open  letter that I wrote to the policemen of our beautiful country - and hope it does not fall on deaf ears!

So lets all be PRO-ACTIVE, take a stand and start to make a difference!

Cheers for now
Lou



OFFENCES UNDER THE ANIMAL PROTECTION ACT:


NUMBER 71 OF 1962



(Assented to 16 June 1962) (Date of Commencement: December 1962)



The term “animal” means any equine, (horse), bovine (cow or cattle), sheep, goat, pig, fowl, ostrich, dog, cat, or other domestic animal or bird, or any wild animal, wild bird or reptile which is in captivity or under the control of any person.



2. Offences in respect of animals. ---- (1) Any person who -----

a) (Obvious Cruelty) Overloads, overdrives, overrides, ill-treats, neglects, infuriates, torturers or maims, or cruelly beats, kicks, goads, or terrifies any animal; or



b) (Chaining up or confinement) Confines, chains, tethers or secures any animal unnecessarily, or under such conditions, or in such a manner or position, as to cause that animal unnecessary suffering or in any place which affords inadequate space, ventilation, light, protection, or shelter from heat, cold or weather; or



c) (Lack of food and water) Unnecessarily starves or under-feeds, or denies water or food to any animal; or



d) (Poisoning) Lays or exposes any poison or any poisoned fluid or edible matter of infectious agents, except for the destruction of vermin, or marauding domestic animals, or without taking reasonable precautions to prevent injury or disease being caused to animals ; or



e) (Neglect) Being the owner of any animal, deliberately or negligently keeps such animal in a dirty, or parasitic condition, or allows it to become infested with external parasites or fails to render, or procure, veterinary or other medical treatment or attention, whether through disease, injury, delivery of young, (pregnancy or labour) or any other cause, or fails to destroy (provide euthanasia or destroy) or cause to be destroyed, any such animal which is so seriously injured, or diseased or in such a physical condition, that to prolong its life would be cruel, and would cause such animal unnecessary suffering; or



f) (Equipment) Uses on, or attaches to any animal any equipment, appliance or vehicle, which causes, or will cause, injury to such animal, or which is loaded, used or attached in such a manner as will cause such animal to be injured, or to become diseased, or to suffer unnecessarily; or



g) (Hunting) Save for the purpose of training hounds maintained by a duly established and registered vermin club in the destruction of vermin, liberate any animal in such a manner or place as to expose it to immediate attack or danger of attack, by other animals or by wild animals, or baits or provokes any animal or incites any animal to attack another animal; or



h) Liberates any bird in such manner as to expose it to immediate attack, or danger of attack by animals, wild animals or wild birds; or



i) (Transport – including carts etc) Drives or uses any animal which is so diseased, or so injured, or in such physical condition that it is unfit to be driven, or to do any work; or



j) (Trapping) Lays any trap or other device for the purpose of capturing, or destroying, any animal, wild animal or bird, the destruction of which is not proved to be necessary, for the protection of property, or for the prevention of the spread of disease; or



k) Having laid any such trap or other device, fails either himself, or through some competent person, to inspect and clear such trap or device, at least once each day; or



l) Except under the authority of a permit issued by the magistrate of the district concerned, sells a trap, or other device, intended for the capture of any animal, including any wild animal (not being a rodent) or wild bird, to any person who is not a bona fide farmer; or



m) (Road transport) Conveys, carries, confines, secures, restrains or tethers any animal –

(i) under such conditions, or in such a manner or position, or for such a period of time, or over such a distance, as to cause that animal unnecessary suffering; or

(ii) in conditions affording inadequate shelter, light or ventilation, or in which, such animal is excessively exposed to heat, cold, weather, sun, rain, dust, exhaust gas, or noxious fumes; or

(iii) without making adequate provision for suitable food, potable water and rest, for such animal, in circumstances where it is necessary; or



n) (Poisoning) without reasonable cause administers to any animal any poisonous or injurious drug or substance; or



o) ……………….



p) (Abandonment) Being the owner of any animal, deliberately or without reasonable cause or excuse, abandons it, whether permanently or not, in circumstances likely to cause that animal unnecessary suffering; or



q) Causes, procures or assists in the commission or omission of any of the aforesaid acts or, being the owner of any animal permits the commission or omission of any such act; or



r) By wantonly or unreasonably or negligently doing or omitting to do any act or causing or procuring the commission or omission of any act, causes any unnecessary suffering to any animal; or



s) Kills any animal in contravention of a prohibition in terms of a notice published in the Gazette under section (3) three of this section,



Shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and any other law, be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or the imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months or to such imprisonment without the option of a fine.



ANIMAL FIGHTS:

1) Any person who -

a) Possess, keeps, imports, buys, sells, trains, breeds or has under his control, an animal for the purpose of fighting any other animal;

b) Baits, or provokes, or incites, any animal to attack another animal, or to proceed with the fighting of another animal,

c) For financial gain or a form of amusement promotes animal fights;

d) Allows any of the acts referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) to take place on any premises, or place in his possession, or under his charge or control

e) Owns, uses or controls any premises, or place, for the purpose or partly for the purpose, of presenting animal fights on any such premises, or place, or who acts, or assists, in the management of any such premises, or place, or who receives any consideration, for the admission of any person, to any such premises or place; or

f) Is present as a spectator, at any premises, or place, where any of the acts referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) is taking place, or where preparations are being made for such acts.



Shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exciding two years.

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APPEAL TO ALL POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE PROUD OF THEIR PROFESSION:


Recently there have been some horrific cases of animal abuse in the news headlines. The two that immediately come to mind are :- The case where a Sundra man slowly hacked off the head of a young Husky puppy with a petrol chain saw, because it killed his pet bird. And more recently - after a truck carrying over 150 pigs jack-knifed in the Eastern Cape, a frantic mob converged, hacking at living flesh, butchering suffering animals whilst still alive. Please see the attached report.



I have been distributing copies of the offences listed under the Animal Protection Act, to police stations throughout the country – most of which I must state, have been received with enthusiasm from officers.



The public believe that police officers are lazy, corrupt, and uncaring – I DON’T.

I believe that there are a large number of police officers who wear their uniforms with pride, and go out of their way to make a difference. I am asking you to help to make a difference in another avenue of your job. You do not have to agree with the law, or agree with the contents of the Animal Protection Act. That is your right as an individual human being, in a free country. YOU DO NOT EVEN HAVE TO LIKE ANIMALS – but please consider the following:-



If you are cut – you bleed: - So do animals! If you are beaten – you bruise – So do animals!

If you are tortured – you are traumatised – So are animals! If you don’t have shelter in the winter, or shade in the sun– you will feel the cold and the heat, and you will suffer! – So do animals! If you are starved – you will die a painful death – So do animals! Animals feel and experience pain, fear, hunger, thirst and suffering! JUST LIKE US! Therefore, even if you are NOT an animal lover – perhaps you could for one minute, just put yourself in their shoes, and as a thinking, feeling, human being, feel compassion for a creature that cannot speak for itself.



The link between animal abuse, child abuse, abuse against women and especially serial killers has been clearly documented, for many years. Many serial killers started off their sick careers, by torturing and mutilating animals. Eventually these sick people progress to committing the same abuse and torture on people (often defenceless children and woman).



If one thinks that OUR children, wives, brothers, and sisters could, at some time, fall prey to such monsters, it might make us think twice, and then consider the Animal Protection Act.



I am not expecting you to become the “animal police” – that would be foolish. What I am asking is that if, in the course of your duty, you come across abuse, or obvious cruelty, (as listed under the APA) you report it immediately to the relevant SPCA. If there is an obvious emergency such as with the recent pig case – it is your duty to intervene immediately until the animal inspectors are there to take over, and it is your duty, to assist them if, and where necessary. What I am asking you to do is to respect the law, and follow it through.



I am asking you, not only to be concerned with laws for rapists/murderers and robbers, I am asking you to consider all laws, and that includes LAWS THAT PROTECT ANIMALS.



The offences listed under the animal protection act are very simple and very clear – and it must be pointed out that it is an offence not to report contraventions of the Act to the SPCA. It is also an offence for an officer not to intervene in an emergency.



Do not forget that people who abuse animals often also abuse people. This is fact! Standing up for something that is right, gives officers another reason to be proud. I would like YOU to prove the public wrong! Prove that we can be proud of ALL officers! Prove that you are willing to uphold ALL OF THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY. Let all South Africans work together, and make our wonderful country proud of us. Let us not hang our heads in shame because we couldn’t be bothered, or were too busy, or in too much of a hurry to make a difference!



Louise Thompson :

Mobile - 082-890-0905