The fate of stray animals that get injured in road accidents and are left to die a horrible roadside death is becoming a bigger and bigger headache for members of the local SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

The past week, animal inspector Lawrence Khodobo of the SPCA in Louis Trichardt was once again called to the scene of an accident along the Vuwani/Malamulele Road, which left three cattle dead and one seriously injured.

The accident apparently occurred last Wednesday evening. The following day, a motorist saw three dead cattle next to the road. Later the same day, he drove past the accident scene again, this time spotting a cow with both front legs broken. The cow had collapsed in a ditch, not far from the road. The motorist immediately went to the Vuwani police station to report the injured animal, but sadly, nothing happened.

“I was told by the police that they cannot destroy the animal, as they are waiting for the owner to claim it. They said they were afraid that if they destroyed it, the owner could claim compensation from them,” the motorist said.

Early Friday morning, the matter was reported to the local SPCA. Within minutes, Insp Khodobo rushed to the scene. To his horror, he found that, during the night, someone had slid the injured cow’s throat and slaughtered it. All that was left was a bloodied carcass.

Following the incident, Insp Khodobo urged members of the public to phone the SPCA immediately to report such incidents of animal cruelty. Just this week he was informed via the grapevine of a man dragging a bull behind a tractor. When he eventually received the message, a couple of hours after the incident, he rushed to the scene, but the perpetrator was gone.

“Do not waste time phoning friends or even the police. Phone the SPCA directly,” Insp Khodobo said. He explained that many police officers do not know what to do in such cases, often resulting in their doing nothing. In the meantime, the injured animal is left to suffer, eventually dying of its injuries or of starvation.

“How can you wait for the owner if the animal is suffering? Where stray animals are involved in accidents, the owner is responsible. This is why you find that, when there is an accident, the owner disappears. It is no use for the police to wait for the owner. The owner will not show up, as he or she fears prosecution,” Insp Khodobo said.

Although it is wise for the police to get permission from the SPCA if they want to destroy and injured animal, Insp Khodobo said that under the Animal Protection Act (Act 71 of 1962 Section 5), any law enforcers are entitled to destroy an animal, as long as it is done humanely. The SPCA is, however, still best equipped to deal with injured animals or animals in distress and to decide whether or not to destroy an animal.

The Louis Trichardt SPCA’s jurisdiction stretches from Beit Bridge to Matoks and from Malamulele to Bochum (Alldays). They can be reached at all hours on their emergency number 082 965 5151. The SPCA’s office number is 015 516 0427 or 015 516 0412 after 18:00.