On Monday, September 26, our Inspectorate received a call from a security company in Riverhorse Valley, concerned about a cat and kitten which had been dumped in the area the previous afternoon. Inspector Rupee went to the scene and found a box measuring 22cm squared (which is tiny considering that an adult cat and kitten were forced into it) with a rock in it. He was amazed to find the cat and the two-day-old kitten in the bushes nearby.
Rupee was advised that the security company had captured everything on security cameras. Rupee retrieved the CCTV footage from the security company and it is in our possession. Rupee rescued the cat and kitten and brought them to our SPCA, where they were both found to be in good health, albeit that the mother was very stressed. The adult cat is a tortoiseshell and the kitten a tabby.
Both mom and kitten are being sheltered at the SPCA until the kitten is at least six weeks old, whereupon efforts will be made to rehome them. These cats are not feral, but extremely domesticated.
The registration of the vehicle was visible on the footage and we have traced the vehicle. Inspector Rupee will be opening a case of cruelty with SAP today. Our Inspectors enforce the Animals Protection Act (APA) no. 71 of 1962. This legislation empowers our inspectors to instigate legal action against abusive and neglectful owners. If found guilty, the perpetrator could face up to three years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of R60 000.
It is outrageous that Riverhorse Valley is a mere few minutes’ drive from our premises in Springfield Park. These pets could have been dropped off at our premises as unwanted, with no questions asked. Even if, after hours, our security is on site to accept unwanted pets. There is no necessity to dump or abandon animals when the SPCA is here to assist.
CCTV footage: Sunday, September 25 at 4.15pm
As events unfolded
Footage shows a car pulling up and three adult males and one minor male making their way to the boot, while looking around furtively. A box is pulled out. Two adult males cross the road and put the box down near bushes off a dirt pathway and place a large, heavy rock on top of box. The car leaves the scene.
Camera zooms back to the box, movement seen. Shortly after, a cat pushes its head out from underneath rock and forces its way out of box. The cat stays close to the box, surveying its surroundings. Some passersby ignore the cat and the box. The cat moves across into the bushes to survey and within seconds is back, delving into the box. The rock falls into the box. The cat emerges holding a tiny kitten in her mouth and scuttles off into the bushes. – By Caroline Smith: The Durban and Coast SPCA