Wired dogs fought my pets – owner

The owner of the two dogs spotted being transported on the back of a bakkie with wire tied around their snouts gave them away because the dogs kept fighting with his other pets, he said yesterday.

The image of the dogs went viral yesterday, sparking outrage on social media and prompting an investigation by the Sandton SPCA. The animals were reportedly being transported from the north of Johannesburg into the CBD.

The man, believed to be a Fourways resident, said: “I gave the dogs away because they were fighting with my other dogs. I am a family man. I have other animals, and they are in good condition. I do not know where [the other two] are now.”

Chad Thomas, from anti-fraud company IRS Forensic Investigations, said the company was assisting in tracking down the driver of the bakkie, pro bono.

“[We] have a team in Yeoville at present attempting to trace the whereabouts of the suspect. IRS is only verifying the information. This information will then be provided to the NSPCA and SA Police Service for prosecution purposes.”

According to Thomas, the owner of the bakkie “leased” the vehicle to a third party, who took the dogs to Hillbrow on Tuesday.

Earlier yesterday, SPCA spokesperson Candice Scorer said the animal rights group and police were urgently tracking down the alleged perpetrators in order to recover the dogs.

“Certain activists not linked to any particular group inadvertently tipped off the guys we are pursuing, and now we are in a mad dash to try and catch them,” she said.

She could provide no further information but said the investigation would continue. – Caxton News Service

I gave the dogs away because they were fighting with my other dogs. I am a family man. I have other animals, and they are in good condition. I do not know where the other two dogs are now