Johannesburg - The National Council of SPCA (NSPCA) has lauded a Free State court for handing two animal abusers heavy sentences for their inhumane treatment of thousands of rabbits.
Hendrik and Belinda van Wyk were sentenced in the Odendaalsrus Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday to a R10 000 fine or six months imprisonment each.
They were sentenced to a further 12 months imprisonment which was suspended for a period of five years.
According to a statement released by the NSPCA, the pair admitted to slaughtering rabbits at a residential address which was not registered as an abattoir for commercial purposes.
“The case was brought after over a thousand rabbits were found in cages in a garage at their residential address in Odendaalsrus,” it said.
The statement listed the horrific conditions in which the animals were kept and how a number of them died inhumane deaths.
“The rabbits were infected with internal and external parasites, had bleeding sores under their feet from being exposed to wire hutches with no place to rest their feet.”
The rabbits lived in overcrowded hutches, dead offspring were left in the cages with their mothers, and those that were released were left to fend for themselves in all weather conditions without shelter.
“The accused conveyed the rabbits, including kittens and lactating mothers, in such a manner that caused suffering and which resulted in broken legs and other injuries.”
The SPCA became aware of the abuse and neglect after many people who were handed rabbits admitted that they were unable to care for them and surrendered the animals to the organisation.
A joint investigation by the Welkom and Virginia SPCAs led to the couple being charged under the Animal Protection Act.
A plea and sentence agreement was reached between the State and the accused after they pleaded guilty to four of the charges against them.
“Mrs van Wyk pleaded guilty on a further count… relating to her wilful obstruction, hindering and resisting Officers of SPCA as they acted in their line of duty.”
The pair were also declared unfit to possess any animal.
The Star