Update

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Graaff-Reinet SPCA is proud to have played an important role in bringing to justice a man accused of a dreadful act of animal abuse and torture.

The incident took place in December 2017, but it took over a year for the final verdict and sentencing.

In March last year, newly appointed SPCA trainee inspector Hillary Chaplin was asked to assist an Umasizakhe resident to lay a charge against a man whose cruelty had led to her two dogs having to be euthanised by a local vet.

A senior inspector from the National Council of SPCA instructed Chaplin step by step, and the procedure was long and drawn out. Fortunately, with diligent attention to detail and a great deal of persistence and perseverance, the accused man was eventually brought to justice.

On Thursday, 18 December 2017 a call was received by the SPCA from a woman living in Eunice Kekana Village, Umasizakhe, who was obviously distressed. She said that her neighbour, Mustapha Claassen, had set her dogs on fire that morning, as they had allegedly been in his rabbit cage and killed his rabbits. The dogs were apparently badly burnt, in pain and she was requesting assistance.

When the trainee field worker arrived at the woman's house, he found two dogs inside, under the kitchen table. There was a strong smell of burnt hair in the air, and when he got closer to the dogs there was a distinct smell of paraffin coming from the dogs. He could see that the dogs’ hair was scorched and charred. There were a number of reddened patches where the skin had been burnt on both dogs’ bodies. The two female crossbreed dogs, Pang-Pang and Pranka, were obviously terrified and in great pain.

Both dogs were taken to a local veterinary clinic where one of the vets examined the dogs. He confirmed that both had sustained severe, third degree burn wounds to the face, chest, shoulders, back and legs. The skin had been burnt away to the underlying muscle, and even bone in some areas of the face, head and back. In each dog more than 40% of the skin on the body surface had been burnt. There was also a smell of paraffin on their fur, as well an oily residue typical of paraffin. 

The vet stated that in his professional opinion, the dogs suffered severely from being burnt in this manner, were tortured and terrified by the experience. Due to the severity of the injuries sustained it was necessary to humanely euthanise the dogs to relieve their suffering.

The Graaff-Reinet Advertiser is in possession of photographs of the dogs’ injuries, but they have been deemed too distressing for publication.

The trainee field worker also went to Claassen’s home, to check on the rabbits, but unfortunately they were all dead. His girlfriend was at the house, and was very angry that the dogs had killed their rabbits. She confirmed that she was present when Claassen found the dogs in the cage with the rabbits, and that he then went to buy paraffin, which he poured on the two dogs and set them alight. She claimed that she extinguished the flames by pouring a bucket of water on the dogs. It is not known how long after the dogs were set alight that she did this.

Both Claassen and his girlfriend were initially charged with animal cruelty, as the woman allegedly did nothing to stop him setting the dogs alight. The SPCA also requested that they be judged unfit to own or be in charge of any animal.

Claassen was sentenced to a fine of R4 000 or six months’ imprisonment, half of which is suspended. He has already paid the fine of R2 000. He was also declared unfit to own or be in control of an animal for one year. The case against his girlfriend was withdrawn.

In terms of the Animals Protection Act of 1962, the maximum sentence that can be awarded for animal cruelty is a fine of R60 000, imprisonment for a period not exceeding 36 months, or both. Many people feel that the perpetrator of this horrific crime got off lightly.

A final comment from the SPCA: "Animal cruelty will not be tolerated. We welcomed the conviction and would like to thank the SAPS, prosecuting team and magistrate for the sentence handed down. No crime against animals will go unpunished."

Read a previous article: Man sentenced for horrific animal abuse

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