Team of SPCA inspectors step up to stop dogfighting!!
The SPCA inspector’s race is in honour of every dog being forced to fight, those we have rescued and the many out there waiting for us to rescue them.
Cape Town, South Africa (13 October 2020) – On the 18th of October, 12 of The Cape of Good Hope SPCA Inspectors, sponsored by My School, My Village, My Planet, take on the Sanlam Cape Town Virtual Marathon in a bid to raise awareness and funds for their very personal fight against dogfighting.
It’s this team who see the devastation caused by dogfighting first hand; it’s this team who brave dangerous environments to rescue broken bodies and this team who fight for justice by giving these dogs a voice in a court of law. Dogfighting is illegal and undeniably cruel – the breeding is cruel, the training is cruel, and the horror of a fight in progress is difficult to put into words.
Head of the Inspectorate Unit, Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse says, “I hate dogfighting because people take advantage of a dog’s best qualities – their unconditional love and loyalty – so that they will endure pain, fear, ripped flesh, blood loss, broken bones and even death all to please their owners. Most fighting dogs rescued by our SPCA have known nothing but abuse and neglect. Many have spent their entire lives alone in a cage or tethered to a heavy chain – only knowing the attention of a human when they are taken out for training, or being made to fight and only knowing the company of other dogs when they are being encouraged to kill them. And yet their loyalty never falters. Even as they are being ripped apart by their opponent, a dog like this keeps on fighting – often for hours – simply because their owner urges them to do so. My team’s race is in honour of every dog being forced to fight, those we have rescued and the many out there waiting for us to rescue them.”
If a dog “wins” a fight, there will be no veterinary treatment to ease their pain, no comfort and no care and they will have to do it all over again, next week or next month. Losing dogs can expect no mercy; in fact, they are often brutally killed by their owner in a cowardly attempt to save face.
Dogfighting is not only cruel to animals; violence like this has devastating effects on children who are present at these events. From an early age, children are learning that cruelty to animals is not only acceptable; it’s entertaining! Instead of feeling empathy, kindness and compassion, they learn that cruelty and violence are the norm. Research has shown that people who are cruel and abusive towards animals invariably treat people, especially women and children, the same way. It is for this reason that the fight against dogfighting is also the very fight for humanity.
The team, who have already raised R100,548.00 towards investigating tip-offs, responding to reports of dog fights in progress and rewarding those brave enough to come forward with information that leads to a successful prosecution, will be running their hearts out on the Sea Point promenade at 9 am on the 18th of October.
Those who feel as strongly as we do about dogfighting are welcome to join us to either run alongside us or encourage our team from the side-lines. Information on recognising the signs of dogfighting and how to make an anonymous report will be available on the day and serve to ensure that everyone can do their part to step up to stop dogfighting and help make the world a kinder place for animals and people too!
Please report any cruelty to animals on 0217004158/9 during office hours or on 0833261620 after hours. The SPCA team is available 24/7.
Source: www.goodthingsguy.co.za