The unjustifiable killing of Kobe and Ace within hours at Kloof SPCA, Durban

Hi Animal *****s, On the 6th May 2025, I took my two dogs, Kobe & Ace to the Kloof SPCA , for safe-keeping, as the landlord, on renewing the lease decided that he did not want any animals on the property. I made it very clear to the staff on duty Michelle & Lara Mallory et al, that I was in a predicament but that I would ensure that another place was to be found to rehome them. After being made to sign a surrender form , which I declined to accept because of my intention of finding them another interim home. I requested that Kloof SPCA at least give them a few days before taking any drastic action. I was made to feel that i'm very bad person for bringing them in, with the staff insisting that i'm abandoning my pets.

On leaving the Kloof SPCA premises, my friend who helped me bring in the pets, agreed to adopt them on my behalf, as he knew how much I cared for and valued them. My daughters also made arrangements to assist with housing my pets as well as my parents. So, Kobe and Ace actually had 3 other homes to go to on short notice. I called back the next morning on the 7th May 2025, to inform the staff of the arrrangements had made for their rehousing and was given the run around by Michellle with all sorts of excuses. The dogs were killed already and she did not know what to say !!!

My friend, Peter Samuels, sent an email the next morning informing the SPCA, that he would accept Kobe & Ace. He received replying email saying they were no longer available. We decided to take a drive to Kloof SPCA to pay for the dogs and make the necessary arrangements for the collection.

Mr Samuels was shocked to learn that Kobe and Ace were killed within hours of being at the Kloof SPCA because they were unable to settle down, that Kobe had dug a hole under the fence & that he had ripped a big hole in the thick-gauged steel fence.

The excuse for killing Ace, an 18 month old Collie/Africanis was that she tried to bite one of the staff, something I do not believe , as, Ace was a docile, gentle dog around people. So, within a few hours of being booked into shelter, both dogs were killed. I sent Ms Barbara Patrick a complaint via email and asked her to investigate these flimsy excuses for killing the dogs but she did not care to respond at all.

I did seek legal advice and got my attorneys to call Ms Barbara Patrick, but they unfortunately, used the surrender form as a defence even though we had agreed in principle that i would make alternate arrangements the next day for their rehoming. I found the staff to be very cynical and arrogant, even though I offered to sponsor the food and support the dogs for a year, to prove that I was definitely not planning to abandon my beloved pets of some 6 years.

I also contacted the National Council of SPCA, and was told by the person in charge there, that she had accept, as ,correct what SPCA staff told her.

They seem only interested in killing the pets and sending them to the crematorium. My family is still in deep anguish over this very unpleasant experience with Kloof SPCA. I am almost certain that Kobe and Ace were profiled because of who their owner is on face value! RIP Kobe and Ace, you guys are loved and missed every day.