R3K fine for stabbing dog

Aman who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges after stabbing a dog must pay a R3 000 fine or face a 10-month imprisonment, as well as pay the cost of the dog’s treatment. Lomzi Petros, 24, was judged guilty of contravening the Animal Protection Act in the magistrate’s court in Grahamstown last Friday.

He confessed to having cruelly mistreated a dog belonging to Nomachina Yantolo by stabbing it with a knife near Xolani on 21 December 2016. In his statement he said, “On the day in question I was walking in Xolani location.

“Whilst I was walking I felt a dog biting my right leg and I fell to the ground. I shouted at it until it left me alone and the bottom part of my pants was torn.

“I saw the dog enter a certain yard and I entered that same yard.

“I approached the owner of the yard Nomachina and reported to her that her dog had bit me. She responded by saying I must see what to do and was not interested in what had happened.

“As a result I got angry and I stabbed the dog and left the yard.”

The accused was found to be in contravention of section 2 (1) (a) read with section 1 Act 71 of 1962 which states offences in respect of animals include, “Any person who overloads, overdrives, overrides, ill-treats, neglects, infuriates tortures or maims or cruelly beats, kicks, goads terrifies any animal.”

SPCA manager Mark Thomas said they were relieved at the outcome of the case.

“It sends a strong message that cruelty to animals is against the law and carries serious consequences,” Thomas told Grocott’s Mail.

The court handed Petros a R3 000 fine with the alternative option of a 10 month imprisonment, both of which are suspended for three years on condition that the accused is not again convicted of contravening section 2 (1) (a) of the Animal Protection Act during the period of the suspension.