Animal cruelty cases delayed for negotiations

AN ALLEGED animal hoarder, who previously pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges for keeping several animals in a bad condition, has entered into negotiations with the State about other cruelty charges.

Dianne Ingram appeared briefly in the Durban Regional Court yesterday and the matter was adjourned.

The Durban and Coast SPCA laid charges against Ingram after finding about 30 animals, including dogs, birds, rats and mice, on a Bellair property she was living at in 2013.

The SPCA said the animals were living in terrible conditions.

Last year Ingram pleaded guilty in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court to seven counts of animal cruelty after the Kloof and Highway SPCA raided an Escombe home she had been renting and confiscated 17 dogs, four cats, two pigs, two rats, two snakes and a mouse.

Ingram’s ex-boyfriend Johan Slabbert, was also charged, but his case is still pending.

Ingram was fined R21 000, half suspended for three years, ordered to pay a R10 750 veterinary bill and declared unfit to be in charge of animals for 10 years.

In her plea Ingram said she had taken in strays and unwanted pets but had been unable to look after them.

Meanwhile Malvern resident Mike Dasebrook, who has been charged for allegedly denying a dog veterinary care, has made representations as to why he should not be prosecuted.

He appeared briefly in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday after charges were laid by the Kloof and Highway SPCA.

The SPCA said that in January an inspector removed an emaciated, unneutered male Africanus that was chained to the fence with a 1m chain at Dasebrook’s home. The dog was reportedly in an appalling condition, severely emaciated and had fly bites to both ears and old untreated injuries to its paws. It had to be put down.

It is understood that Dasebrook has denied the allegations and said the dog was a stray, which he fed on occasion. It had been restrained only at the request of a neighbour, for it to be fetched by the SPCA.

The case was adjourned to next month for the State to consider the representations.