Boerboel owner to appear in October
The owner of a Boerboel breeding facility near Hartenbos will appear in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court again on Monday, 10 October.
The Garden Route SPCA (GRSPCA) discovered and confiscated 60 emaciated and severely neglected boerboels at the facility in May this year.
The owner of the facility is facing several charges of animal cruelty under the Animals Protection Act No 71 of 1962, including the failure to provide the animals in his care with sufficient food and necessary veterinary care.
His first court appearance was on Tuesday, 6 September. The owner will also be charged for surgically mutilating the tails of the puppies the facility was selling (tail docking).
Senior NSPCA inspector Cheri Cooke says the staff at the GRSPCA have worked tirelessly to rehabilitate and rehome the dogs that could be saved.
"We are incredibly grateful to all the members of the public and the local media who took such an active interest in this story and supported us with donations of food, money and even volunteered their time towards the rehabilitation of the boerboels."
Again she urged all animal owners and breeders who find themselves unable to provide proper care for their animals to please put the animals' health and welfare first and reach out to their local SPCA for support.
"We also appeal to the public not to support breeders, but instead to adopt one of the many rescue animals living in the hope of finding a forever home," she said.
Most of the dogs that could be saved have found their loving, forever homes through the GRSPCA's adoption process, she says.