Durban - Escombe resident Dianne Ingram’s legal woes seemed to have worsened when she appeared at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court without a lawyer on Wednesday.
Ingram faces 18 counts of animal cruelty after the Kloof and Highway SPCA confiscated 17 dogs, four cats, two pigs, two rats, two snakes and one mouse from her home in November.
The animals were found to be living in dirty conditions, had no access to water, the dogs and cats were infested with parasites and most animals were in urgent need of veterinary attention.
It is not clear what transpired between Ingram and her attorney, but she has a couple of weeks to find a legal representative before her next appearance on February 6.
Prosecutor Dudu Mbatha said animal cruelty was a serious offence, and the State did not want to delay dealing with the matter.
This is not the first time the SPCA has removed animals from Ingram’s property. Twenty of her pets were taken from her home, which was in Drummond at the time, in May, 2013.
The Durban and Coast SPCA also confiscated 25 animals from her home in November that year.
“The same contraventions of the Animals Protection Act were cited in both cases. Once again we found the same offences and animals suffering at the hand of Dianne Ingram,” said Lisa Gadd of the Kloof and Highway SPCA.
The animals removed last year were treated and then put out for adoption, and all had since found new homes.
Gadd said Ingram had not contacted them to claim the confiscated animals back.
“Owning an animal is a lifetime commitment which will demand expenses over a period of 15-20 years (including food, toys and medical treatment). We appeal to anyone looking to own a pet to take into account the financial responsibility of owning an animal,” said Barbara Patrick, manager of the Kloof and Highway SPCA.
They appealed to members of the public to report cases of animal hoarding and cruelty to animals to their local SPCA.
The Mercury