While the work of animal inspectors across the world may hold a lot of entertainment value through programmes such as Animal Cops on DSTV’s Animal Planet channel, the "in-your-face" reality of just how cruel people can be towards animals is something the South African Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has to deal with on a daily basis.

Such was the case last week when the Louis Trichardt SPCA was called out to Tshilwavhusiku.

"I got a call from Insp Basket from the Tshilwavhusiku police station. He told me that a dog was trapped at the bottom of a 15-metre-deep well. They (the police) were at first told that it might possibly a person trapped in the well, after strange and agonizing noises were heard coming from the well. When they got there, however, they saw that it was a dog," said Animal Inspector Lawrence Khodobo.

Upon arriving at the scene on Monday, Lawrence was barely able to make out the outlines of the dog at the bottom of the well, using a flash light. He realized, however, that he, at that stage, would need specialized climbing equipment to rescue the dog. Lawrence immediately arranged with the Louis Trichardt Fire Brigade to assist him but, unfortunately, assistance would only be available the next day.

"That night I could not sleep. I knew the dog was in unbearable pain and I wondered whether it would survive the long, cold night," said Lawrence.

The next day Lawrence, together with firemen Victor Maswanganyi and Herold Musivhi, returned to the scene. The dog was still alive!

Risking life and limb, Victor descended down the dark, open well.

"We struggled for almost two hours to get the dog out and there was a surprise waiting for them at the bottom of the well. He was a she and she had four pups with her, of whom one, sadly, was already dead," said Lawrence.

By that time, members of the community had told Lawrence that it was a 15-year-old boy who threw the dogs down the well. Lawrence managed to track down the boy and confronted him, wanting to know what had prompted this cruel act.

"The boy was very arrogant and did not even deny throwing the dogs down the well. Apparently, it was their punishment for taking some of his food," said Lawrence. The boy was taken into custody and charged with cruelty to animals.

With their hard work rewarded, the dogs were taken to a veterinarian. But sadly, with her lower back paralyzed and her being severely dehydrated, the prognosis for the mother was not good. The pups were in very bad shape too, suffering from serious injuries sustained from the fall and they were also very dehydrated. In the end, the pups and the mother had to be euthanized.

"I was very disappointed. Although we could rescue them, we could not save their lives. The pups were only a couple of days old, their eyes not even open yet," said Lawrence. The animals were in the well for five days without food and water.

The young boy appeared in the Louis Trichardt magistrate’s court on July 4.

Because of his young age, the court decided that the boy should first receive compulsory counselling, after which he will be evaluated.

"If the outcome of the counselling is not satisfactory, the court will continue with their case against him," said Lawrence.

Incidents like these constantly reminds Lawrence, and other animal inspectors like him, of the important role they play in safeguarding animals in a sometimes cruel and inhumane society. In cases such as these, the rewards are few.

"If people have animals they do not want, phone us and we will try and make a plan, rather than doing something like this," said Lawrence. He also urged parents to educate their children to have respect for all living things.

"Animals have the right to live too and we should respects that right and treat them with kindness," he said.

(The SPCA is a non-profit organisation which completely relies on donation to function. For more information or assistance, phone Lawrence at Tel 082 965 5151)