Jason Felix
DOG smugglers are targeting South African dogs because their bloodlines are stronger, they are more aggressive, and are less prone to illnesses than dogs in neighbouring countries, an animal conservationist said yesterday.
Mariette Hopley, a former major in the SA Air Force who flew to Iraq in 2003 to help save animals in the war-battered Baghdad Zoo, spearheaded investigations into a dog smuggling network which has led to the arrest of 13 suspects.
Indications are that the dog smuggling syndicate operates in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Angola. The dogs are either bought for between R100 and R300 or stolen in Cape Town, and are then transported to Angola, where they are sold at a huge markup.
Hopley, the manager of animal rescue group National Animal Welfare Task Team, said 97 dogs had been rescued since August of which 12 had been released to their owners.
In August, 26 dogs were rescued at the Angolan border while in September, 40 were rescued at the Namibian border and in the same month another 18 at a Philippi home.
On Monday, 13 dogs destined for Angola were rescued at the Cape Town International Airport.
“South African dogs are wanted because their bloodlines are stronger, genetically they are better and are less prone to illnesses.
“The syndicate made it clear that they want dogs from SA also because they are more aggressive. Aggressive dogs are normally used for dog fights and others for breeding or safeguarding homes,” Hopley said.
Hopley said huskies, German shepherds, Rottweilers, pitbulls and boerboels were the most wanted dogs.
“The dogs that are still in our care will be handed over to animal welfare groups if we can’t manage to get hold of their owners after a month,” she said.
The dogs are kept at houses in Bellville and Athlone.
Hopley said members of her organisation working in Angola had uncovered the syndicate.
South African dogs were sold for a high price because they were used in dog fights where a lot of money was bet, and for security purposes.
Hopley said that bets as high as R80 000 were made on pitfights.
“Dogs are sold for no less than R25 000 and puppies for R10 000 or more.”
In 2003, Hopley led an emergency relief team in Iraq assembled by the International Fund for Animal Welfare which restored the zoo’s infrastructure and made other changes to give the animals a better life.
The fund offered Hopley a job as global logistics co-ordinator for her involvement in wildlife preservation and conservation.
In Parliament, Hopley was nominated to serve on the Department of Environmental and Tourism Affairs as a representative for mariculture and scuba-diving.
She recommended that owners microchip their dogs.
“We scan dogs for microchips and if found we will compare that to our database or we contact the manufacturer of the chip.
“If there are no microchips found on the dogs we check their ears for a number tattoo.
“A number tattoo is the safest way to safeguard a dog.”