Cat badly hurt during botched home castration
A HEALTH practitioner was arrested for the botched castration of a cat in Maitland.
The cat, Howard, was admitted to a private hospital with severe injuries. The suspect reportedly performed the procedure in the lounge of the cat owner’s home.
The surgery happened mid-July, but the Cape of Good Hope SPCA opened the case on July 21.
Spokesperson Belinda Abrahams said: “We also lodged a formal complaint with the SA Veterinary Council (SAVC) following an alert from the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) about a botched castration procedure performed on the cat.
“This resulted in the suspect being arrested and detained at the Maitland SAPS for contravening the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 and the Veterinary and Para Veterinary Act 19 of 1982.”
Abrahams said the distressing incident took place when an individual, posing as a vet, conducted the castration bare-handed on the owner’s dining room table.
“The cat named Howard was, according to his owner, sedated but flinching throughout the entire procedure.
“She also noted excessive cutting to her cat’s scrotum and significant force to expose the testes. Two to three hours later, when Howard began bleeding profusely, he was rushed to a private veterinary practice in Rondebosch where he was stabilised overnight before being transferred to the PDSA on the morning of July 13.
“Howard was dehydrated and presented with pale pink mucous membranes and a packed cell volume well below the normal range – all indications of significant blood loss. In addition to this, Howard was in terrible pain, the scrotal area had been poorly shaven, and bruising was apparent in his perineal area and on his caudal thighs, suggesting haemorrhaging or mishandling during the castration.”
Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said Maitland police were investigating a case of cruelty to animals.
“We can confirm that a 37-year-old man will make a court appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court once charged.”