Heartbroken and disappointed
Yesterday the spca collected my 2 dogs after receiving a complaint from a neighbour that our dogs kept barking and they are restrained. Our dogs were kept on a leash for the sake of visitors. The guy the spca dispatched to fetch our dogs name is Theo. My husband was at home at the time and I was at work. This Theo person told my husband there is no other option but for him to take our dogs because the dogs cant be tied up and told him to sign a form that hands the dogs over because there was no solution in his eyes. We love our dogs and argued to keep them. When I returned home from work I started researching our options to get our dogs back. It turns out Theo shouldn't have taken our dogs without issuing a warrant first. What he did was take our dogs and returned hours later with a warning letter. This morning I called the spca and the lady I spoke to gave me 2 claim numbers and that I can come to collect my dogs. We rushed to get to the Grassy Park spca, where they were kept as soon as possible. When we reached the spca and going through the process to get our dogs back, I was shattered to find out that they have put down one of my dogs this morning. I couldn't contain my heart break nor the tears that came with it. We found out that Theo completed the form with information we were shocked to find out. He already had my husband's signature and completed the form stating "unwanted and aggressive". The only time the dogs became aggressive was with strangers. My dogs never hurt anyone, I fed them by my own hands since they were 3 weeks old and they were my babies. They were taken away from us because of a spiteful neighbour and the spca failed to properly investigate the situation. How do I move on from this? You have taken the lives of my dogs and completely tore out my heart after giving me high Hopes of getting them back and loving them as part of our family as we have done for the past 2 years. To Theo, why didn't you just issue us with a warning and at least give us the option and time to try and comply with the issue of the dogs being restrained. Who gave you the authority to make an ultimatum being either let the dogs loose or you have to take the dogs immediately. You didn't have a warrant, you knew this but made as if you can do what you see is fit. You **** when asked if the dog where going to be put down. In the end you and the spca killed both our beloved dogs. Cape of Good Hope SPCA - this happened Friday, 16 April 2021
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA received a complaint about your dogs being kept on static chains. Inspector Theo Arendolf was assigned to investigate the matter. Inspector Arendolf found your two dogs on static chains of less than 1 meter (not on leashes as claimed in your email below). The living conditions of the dogs were poor and dirty to say the least. The dogs were being kept in conditions contravening the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962, which is a ******** and prosecutable offence. Inspector Arendolf discussed the matter with your husband (as you were not home at the time). Your husband asked Inspector Arendolf what the options were and Inspector Arendolf suggested that the dogs be surrendered to the SPCA as they are not being looked after adequately and in terms of the law. Your husband surrender both dogs to the SPCA out of his own free will. Unfortunately both dogs were highly aggressive and were not suitable for adoption. It is our conclusion that the dogs were so highly aggressive as a result of the chaining. It is unfortunate that the dogs had to be humanely euthanased, but the SPCA cannot rehome highly aggressive dogs and certainly cannot expose dogs to abuse where they will be permanently kept on a short static chain. Inspector Arendolf then returned to your property and issued a written warning to ensure that you do not get new dogs and keep them in the same substandard conditions or on static chains. Inspector Arendolf acted within his mandate to prevent cruelty to animals.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA received a complaint about your dogs being kept on static chains. Inspector Theo Arendolf was assigned to investigate the matter. Inspector Arendolf found your two dogs on static chains of less than 1 meter (not on leashes as claimed in your email below). The living conditions of the dogs were poor and dirty to say the least. The dogs were being kept in conditions contravening the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962, which is a ******** and prosecutable offence. Inspector Arendolf discussed the matter with your husband (as you were not home at the time). Your husband asked Inspector Arendolf what the options were and Inspector Arendolf suggested that the dogs be surrendered to the SPCA as they are not being looked after adequately and in terms of the law. Your husband surrender both dogs to the SPCA out of his own free will. Unfortunately both dogs were highly aggressive and were not suitable for adoption. It is our conclusion that the dogs were so highly aggressive as a result of the chaining. It is unfortunate that the dogs had to be humanely euthanased, but the SPCA cannot rehome highly aggressive dogs and certainly cannot expose dogs to abuse where they will be permanently kept on a short static chain. Inspector Arendolf then returned to your property and issued a written warning to ensure that you do not get new dogs and keep them in the same substandard conditions or on static chains. Inspector Arendolf acted within his mandate to prevent cruelty to animals.