The mother of a boy who was part of a gang who stoned a dog to death says she is happy that the SPCA and police are taking action against him.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has laid criminal charges against seven boys who killed a stray dog in Manenberg.
The SPCA shared a video recording of the horrific incident, which took place two weeks ago, and it has gone viral online.
In the seven-minute ordeal, eight children, aged between seven and 17, are seen dragging a dog by a rope tied around its neck to a secluded area.
Several of the kids shout: “You are going to die - to die” repeatedly before beginning their assault on the helpless hondjie.
A child is heard saying “because he steals the people’s hondebak, he must die”.
They also try to set a pit bull on the stray while at the same time repeatedly kicking it.
The pit bull attacks a few times but when she doesn’t kill the brakkie, the children hang it from a tree before taking it down and hurling rocks and concrete at the terrified cross-breed.
At one stage the boy making the video says, “This is why you must look after your dogs, people.”
In the last image, the dog is lying motionless on the ground.
WARNING: This video contains graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised.
Cape of Good Hope SPCA inspectors have identified the children and criminal charges of animal cruelty have been laid.
Spokesperson Belinda Abraham says a concerned resident sent them a copy of the video on Friday.
Inspectors fetched the animal’s body from the vlei, and the SPCA is awaiting autopsy results from the state vet.
“Initial observations include broken limbs and open wounds on the body and skull of the dog,” she adds.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirms a case of cruelty to animals is being investigated, but no arrests have been made yet.
The 17-year-old boy’s mother says she confronted her son immediately after she saw the video two weeks ago.
“ Ek het hom eers goed geslaan en toe vra ek vrae,” she says.
“He says they got the dog from a man who apparently first drowned it after it stole meat. I don’t know why they took the dog and did this.
“I was happy when I heard the SPCA took action, they must all be taught a lesson.”