A Mitchells Plain man has been fined R24 000 or 12 months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to three charges of animal cruelty for starving his seven dogs.
Igshaan Salie was sentenced at the Mitchells Plain Regional Court on Tuesday and was fined R24 000 or 12 months
imprisonment.
Belinda Abraham of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA says the man was charged after numerous warnings were issued and he refused to remove the chains or feed his dogs at his home in Lentegeur.
In June last year, after obtaining a warrant, the animals were removed from Salie’s care.
Abraham says the chained honde were horrifically malnourished, with their ribcages showing, while several had untreated open wounds.
CRUELTY: One of seven dogs chained and starved
“The Cape of Good Hope SPCA secured a victory for animals in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates court, when a sentence of a fine of R24 000 or 12 months imprisonment, suspended for five years was handed down to an offender in respect of cruelty to animals,” she said.
“Magistrate Kader also declared Mr Salie, who pleaded guilty to three counts of animal cruelty, to be unfit to own or be in charge of any animal again.
“Our investigation into this matter began on 17 May 2019 when we received a complaint about seven starved and chained dogs on a property in Lentegeur.”
She says their inspector went out the next day and found the dogs and two puppies.
“All the dogs were severely underweight - evidently starved and chained.
“In addition to this, Mr Salie denied the SPCA’s offer of free veterinary treatment for his animals because this would have included sterilisation, something he would not agree to because he wanted his animals to breed.”
CRUELTY: One of seven dogs chained and starved