Pit Bull Puppies Poisoned At Pit Bull Awareness Event

by Megan Drake October 19, 2012 @ 4:00 pm

Pennsylvania is not known as very animal friendly as evidenced by the legality of live pigeon shooting in the state. Now comes an alarming story of six 8-week-old pit bull puppies who were poisoned while attending a pit bull awareness event in Hollidaysburg. How’s that for irony?

Founders of A Darrah Bull Bully Rescue (ADBBR) brought the pups to the first annual Central Pennsylvania Pit Bull Awareness Day on Saturday, October 13. At about 2:00 p.m. Renae Metz, one of the founders, noticed that one of the puppies, Yogi, looked like he was having trouble. “His stomach was bloated, he had glazy eyes and couldn’t hold his head up,” said Metz.

Yogi was rushed to Ebensburg Animal Hospital where he died. The other five pups – Niayah, Mongy, Aramis, Deacon and Takoda – were sent to the animal hospital for observation and given IV fluids. Tragically, Takoda also died.

A necropsy confirmed poisoning. Brittany Miller, another founder of ADBBR, spoke with me by telephone and relayed the veterinarian suspected bleach or a bleach-based product was put in the water bowls. This caused their livers to start bleeding. Two days before, the puppies were given a clean bill of health by the veterinarian.

ADBBR is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to a conviction of the perpetrators. The money was generously donated by some of the adoptive parents, and others, with a $1,000 donation from a single person. Both the Pennsylvania State Police and the State Dog Warden are actively investigating this poisoning.

All of the surviving puppies have been approved for adoptive homes. Media coverage brought numerous applications. Niayah, Aramis, Deacon and Mongy are all back in their foster homes awaiting final adoption. Brittany told me the veterinarian wants to wait a little longer to spay/neuter because of the poisoning. He wants to ensure it is totally out of their systems before surgery.

Understanding Bully Breeds

ADBBR rescues all bully breeds — from Rottweilers to bulldogs and pit bulls. They are dedicated to educating the public about bully breeds. Did you know in the early twentieth century pit bulls used to be called “nanny dogs” because they were so dedicated to protecting the young children of their household?

It’s important to understand that any dog has the potential to bite humans.

Without proper socialization as a puppy within a loving home, any dog can become aggressive. If a dog – any breed – is raised to be violent you have the possibility of aggression causing harm to humans and/or other animals.

It is also imperative that people — especially children — be taught humane education and the proper way to interact with unfamiliar dogs and other animals. According to the American Humane Association (AHA), of the 4.7 million estimated dog bites each year almost 800,000 require medical intervention. Fifty percent of the attacks were on children under the age of 12.

Many townships have passed breed-specific legislation (BSL) but this only serves to provide a false sense of security, because any dog can become aggressive. BSL is expensive and often poorly-enforced, therefore providing little protection to the general public from dog bite incidents.

The AHA reports 25 different breeds of dogs were involved in 238 fatal dog attacks in the U.S. and sites “responsible breeding and ownership, public education and enforcement of existing laws are the most effective ways of reducing dog bites.”

Check out events for the 6th National Pit Bull Awareness Day, being held this year on October 27.
So yes, that adage “it’s the deed, not the breed” is something we should all be aware of.
Take a look at some photos of the poisoned puppies Brittany Miller shared with me.


Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/pit-bull-puppies-poisoned-at-pit-bull-awareness-event.html#ixzz2A2NdVzWg

Movember 2012 – Knowledge is Power and the Moustache is King

We are open for business, come on in and join our family! Movember, the Global Men’s Health charity initiative staged annually during November, has launched the 2012 campaign and registrations are now open.

This will be the 3rd year that South African men and women register and support the Global charity that is ‘Changing the Face of Men’s Health’, which sees men grow moustaches for 30 days during November in order to raise awareness and funds for CANSA’s prostate and testicular cancer programmes and initiatives.

Movember Supports CANSA’s Men’s Health Programme

Over the past two years, Movember has paid homage to the Modern Gentleman and Country Gentleman, exploring his appreciation and penchant for luxury items, etiquette, craftsmanship, pride and honour. In 2012, Movember gets down to the raw hard truths of the past two years,taking a look, quite simply, at what it means to be a better man. 2012 is the year of Movember & Sons.

In 2011, the campaign had close to 18 000 men (known as Mo Bros) and women (known as Mo Sistas) registered as active participants and R4.9 million was raised for the local men’s health partner, namely CANSA.

Founded in Melbourne, Australia, in 2003, Movember enjoyed 856 000 Mo Bros and Sistas, registered from 14 countries in 2011, raising over R949 million last year alone. In 2012, Movember will launch in a further 7 countries, increasing the number to 21 countries participating in the campaign. This has resulted in Movember being one of the single biggest contributors to prostate cancer research globally through their GAP (Global Action Plan) initiative – which has already achieved remarkable outcomes and breakthroughs.

Mo Bros and Sistas are asked to register – for free – on the South African landing page of www.movember.com, where participants can also post and chronicle their moustache journey and | or support their favourite ‘moustache merchants’ on their respective Mo Space pages. Mo Bros and Sistas who have registered previously are required to re-register in order to participate in the 2012 campaign. There are a few new additions to this year’s campaign including various challenges within communities and industries participating in the campaign.

Those who have already pledged their support, vowed to grow a moustache and join the Movember conversation include Springboks Andries Bekker, Frans Steyn and Dean Greyling.

Movember Partners

• Major partners to this year’s Movember campaign include OUTsurance, who has committed that registered Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who call in for a free life insurance quote will receive R200 donated to their Mo Space Pages.
• Low cost airline kulula, will allow registered Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who book and fly with the airline an additional bag (or 20kg’s luggage) and free access to the SLOW Lounges during the month of Movember.
• Clover, as promotional partner, will donate a portion of sales of all Clover Mmmilk products over this period to the campaign.

Register Now!

To register and find out more visit www.movember.com

Dolly the blind Pit Bull

Dolly is a 6 year old female pit bull. She came to our shelter on October of 2009, because she was scheduled to be euthanized at the local city pound. She was the perfect candidate to be put down, because she was blind; her head was cracked with a baseball bat; she had possible brain damage; her right ear was almost hanging off, and was apparently lit on fire judging by the burns and scabs on her body.

Hers is not really a unique story in animal rescue, but she is possibly the sweetest creature I’ve ever encountered – especially after what she’s been through. She’s so innocent that I’m sure she thought she must have been a bad girl and deserved to be punished.  She has ZERO aggression, and actually adores any type of human interaction. She also lacks the ability to frown. What I mean is that from the moment she awakens to the time she goes to bed at night, she has the most genuine beaming smile.

She also loves to play with other dogs after she has the opportunity to meet them and determine that they play fair, since she can’t see. When a person or canine that she knows enters her room, she immediately starts to buck like a deer, twirl and frolic like a puppy. We have a volunteer who recently had a death in the family, who relies on playing with her every day. He calls her a life saver, and actually she would probably qualify to be a therapy dog.

We had her spayed and her head, ears and body are long healed, but the blow(s) to the head seemed to have affected her sight permanently. Regardless, my volunteer is going to adopt her, since he has permission to take her to work!! -- Robert

 

Dolly's story has a happy ending thanks to the volunteers who rescued her and treated her for her injuries. It is important to remember that Dolly is one of many animals who fall victim to abuse at the hands of humans.

The Patrick Miracle

 

 

March 16, 2011: An emaciated Pitbull-mix is discovered in a garbage bag by maintenance workers at the bottom of a 19-story tall garbage chute. The dog is immobile, but ALIVE. This is how he looked on arrival that Newark's animal shelter that night. 

The 22 story apartment building is equipped with garbage chutes on each floor for tenants. Someone had ... no more use for this dog. They had starved it to near death, put it in a garbage bag and threw it down the garbage chute. A maintenance worker cleans out the bin every few days and on Wednesday, March 16th, they were cleaning out the contents of the container to go directly into a trash compacter. The bag moved a little and the worker opened it to find a moribund dog inside -- pathetically thin, cold and near death.

The City of Newark Animal Control was contacted and ACO Arthur Skinner picked up the dog and brought him directly to the Society. The veterinary staff immediately put him on intravenous fluid.His temperature was so low that it did not even register on the thermomenter. He was covered with heating pads and blankets.

After a brief time at the Society's Newark facility, he was ambulanced to Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls -- a referral hospital with 24 hour emergency care. If he died during that night, we feel he would know that everyone loved and cared about him and treated him gently and lovingly. He amazed everyone at the Society and at Garden State by surviving with the 24 hour emergency care that they rendered. He was given a blood transfusion, a bath -- and even a walk! In honor of the first day of his re-birth, we call him Patrick -- in honor of St. Patrick's Day and we hope he has the luck of the Irish!

 

It is now 18 months later and just look at Patrick!

Absolutely beautiful!

 

 

 

Go read more about Patrick's amazing story on his Facebook Page :

http://www.facebook.com/ThePatrickMiracle

HAPPY WOMEN'S MONTH

This Applies To You A good woman is proud of herself. She respects herself and others. She is aware of who she is. She neither seeks definition from the person she is with, nor does she expect them to read her mind. She is quite capable of articulating her needs. A good woman is hopeful. She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true. She knows love, therefore she gives love. She recognizes that her love has great value and must be reciprocated. If her love is taken for granted, it soon disappears. A good woman has a dash of inspiration, a dabble of endurance. She knows that she will, at times, have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them. A good woman knows her past, understands her present and moves toward the future. A good woman knows God. She knows that with God the world is her playground, but without God she will just be played. A good woman does not live in fear of the future because of her past. Instead, she understands that her life experiences are merely lessons, meant to bring her closer to self knowledge and unconditional self love. Girls Smile.....YOU KNOW YOU HAVE IT GOING ON! So Keep ON Keeping On. I just sent this to good women .............. why don't you? HAPPY WOMEN'S MONTH

Hoping for a Breast Cancer Cure

The T-Shirt of the year.

This is the cutest breast cancer email I have ever received.

In Memory Of Lennox, Dog Put To Death For Resembling A Pit Bull

A determined 22-month long legal battle and a heartfelt social-media campaign for Lennox the dog came to a sad end on Wednesday. The 7-year-old dog was euthanized in Northern Ireland because his appearance resembled a pit bull terrier, a breed that is banned in the country.

 

 

 

A statement from the Belfast City Council said it had humanely destroyed “one of the most unpredictable and dangerous dogs” that its appointed expert had ever come across. The council said they carried out the court-ordered euthanasia for reasons of public safety and “a sustained campaign of abuse” against city officials from protestors.

Lennox’s story began two years ago when he was taken into custody because he looked like a pit bull dog. Pit bulls and pit bull mixes are outlawed in Britain.

Caroline Barnes, who owned Lennox, testified in court that her dog was a bull dog mix, not a pit bull terrier and that he had never bitten anyone. She asked the court to let her move Lennox outside of Northern Ireland in an area that did not have breed specific legislation. She wanted Lennox to come to a sanctuary in the United States.

News of Lennox’s case launched a massive online campaign by animal lovers in Britain and the U.S. to save the dog’s life. The commitment of tens of thousands of “Save Lennox” fans, LennoxArmy followers and Care2 petitioners continued during the entire 22-months he was imprisoned.

Barnes fought for her dog’s life in the court system until the very end. After nearly two years, Lennox’s fate was determined last month when an appeal was dismissed by Northern Ireland’s senior judges. The judges upheld two 2011 rulings to have Lennox euthanized.
Meanwhile Lennox endured the time at a municipal animal shelter in Belfast where employees claimed he was becoming more aggressive and unpredictable.

Councilman Pat McCarthy said, “The people looking after Lennox for the past two years said that one minute the dog was placid and friendly, and the next he would try to get through the fence to get at you.”

Perhaps Lennox was getting as frustrated with the legal process as the humans fighting for his life.

Victoria Stilwell, host of Animal Planet’s “It’s Me Or the Dog,” said “I hoped Belfast City Council would realize that there were alternatives that provided a sanctuary for Lennox in the USA where he would be safe, but they did not listen.”

On the final day Caroline Barnes and Lennox were refused the last shred of humanity that could have been given; Barnes was not allowed to be with her dog when he died.

A Facebook page for Lennox gave an “official statement” from the family: "We have been denied the opportunity to say goodbye. We have also been told that we cannot collect his body and bring Len home. We have been informed, however, that we will receive "some" ashes in the mail."

Rest In Peace, Lennox.

Cancer and Armpits

Cancer and Armpits


Why breast cancer is usually found near the armpit?

Some time ago, I attended a Breast Cancer Awareness seminar and I asked why the most common area for Breast Cancer was near the armpit.
My question could not be answered at that time.
This e-mail was just sent to me, and I find it interesting that my question has been answered. I challenge you all to rethink your every day use of a product that could ultimately lead to a terminal illness.  As of today, I will change my use.
I showed it to another friend going through chemotherapy & she said s learned this fact in a support group recently.
The leading cause of breast cancer is the use of anti-perspirant.
*What???*
*Yes,* *ANTI-PERSPIRANT*.
Most of the products out there are an anti-perspirant /deodorant combination, so go home and check Deodorant is fine, anti-perspirant is not!
Here's why: - The human body has a few areas that it uses to purge toxins; behind the knees, behind the ears, groin area, and armpits. The toxins are purged in the form of perspiration.
Anti-perspirant, as the name clearly indicates, prevents you from perspiring, thereby inhibiting the body from purging toxins from below the armpits.

These toxins do not just magically disappear. Instead, the body deposits them in the lymph nodes below the arms since it cannot sweat them out.
Nearly all breast cancer tumors occur in the upper outside quadrant of the breast area. This is precisely where the lymph nodes are located.
 Additionally, men are less likely (but not completely exempt) to develop breast cancer prompted by  anti- perspirant usage because most of the anti-perspirant product is caught in their hair and is not directly applied
To the skin.
Women who apply anti-perspirant right after shaving
Increase the risk further because shaving causes almost imperceptible nicks in the skin which give the chemicals entrance into the body from the armpit area.

PLEASE pass this along to anyone you care about.
Breast cancer is becoming frighteningly common.
This awareness may save lives.

Prince William Takes Aim At Poachers

Prince William, Britain's future king, has taken up the cause elephants and rhinos, who are being poached to extinction in Africa.

After hearing, in February, that white rhino Max, who had been hand-reared by his friend Ian Craig, owner of the Lewa wildlife reserve in Kenya, had been shot 17 times by poachers, he issued a statement saying:

The Duke of Cambridge is appalled to hear about this senseless slaughter. He remains very concerned about rhino and elephant poaching and has asked Tusk Trust to keep him updated on this issue in Africa.

William, himself a hunting enthusiast, became a supporter of the Tusk Trust when he spent six weeks on the reserve in 2001.

Max had already had most of his horn removed - as is increasingly done to protect the animals from being killed for their horn. But the criminals killed him anyway in order to saw off the last bit that remained.

Rhino horn sells for around $34,000 a pound in several Asian countries, where it's ground up for quack medicines and turned into jewelry.

Last week, in Garamba National Park in the Congo, 22 elephants were shot and killed from a helicopter. After hacking off their tusks and genitals, the killers are thought to have smuggled them out through South Sudan or Uganda, which are considered the "Ivory Road" out of Africa to Asia.

"Last year we believe that as many as 35,000 elephants may have been slaughtered for their ivory," Charlie Mayhew, co-founder of the Tusk Trust, told reporters. "South Africa lost 434 rhino last year. This year we know that they've lost more than 170 rhino. That's more than an average of one every 15 hours and that is just South Africa alone."

Speaking of Max the rhino, Mayhew said:

"Max's slaughter by poachers is a shocking illustration of what is now happening the length and breadth of Africa to meet the growing demand for rhino horn in China and Vietnam. The fact that this rhino had been hand reared at Lewa meant that many visitors to Lewa including our Royal Patron had the opportunity to get extremely close to him. It of course makes it all the more shocking and sad when you know the individual animal that has been poached."

Speaking out on behalf of the wildlife of Africa, William said that if people and governments don't act immediately, "Tomorrow will be too late."

Hunting has, in fact, long been a pastime of the British royal family. And while we all want to protect the elephants and rhinos from being poached to extinction, if you're one of the animals that William and his family enjoys killing, it's small solace that he's concerned to protect animals thousands of miles away from his own killing fields on the family estates in the U.K.

Certainly, "sport" hunters are often avid conservationists, but this is largely to ensure a plentiful supply of the animals they enjoy killing.

We all appreciate anything William and other hunters can do to protect wildlife anywhere. But the biggest thing the prince could do to help the animals of Africa would be to give up hunting himself.

Animals Protection Act of South Africa

Animals Protection Act

ANIMALS PROTECTION ACT

NO. 71 OF 1962

(ASSENTED TO 16 JUNE, 1962) (DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 01 DECEMBER 1962)

(Afrikaans text signed by the State President)

as amended by

General Law Amendment Act No. 102 of 1972

(with effect from 05 July 1972 - see title GENERAL LAW AMENDMENT ACTS)

Animals Protection Amendment Act, No. 7 of 1972

Animals Protection Amendment Act, No. 54 of 1983

Animals Protection Amendment Act, No. 20 of 1985

Animals Protection Second Amendment Act, No. 84 of 1985

Protection of Animals Amendment Act, No. 7 of 1991

Animal Matters Amendment Act, No. 42 of 1993

GENERAL NOTE

In terms of Proclamation No.R.45 of 8 August 1997, the administration of Act No. 71 of 1962 has been Assigned to the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs.

ACT

To consolidate and amend the laws relating to the prevention of cruelty to animals.

1. DEFINITIONS: In this Act, unless the content otherwise indicates:

"animals" means any equine, bovine, sheep, goat, pig, fowl, ostrich, dog, cat, or other domestic animal or bird, or any wild animal, wild animal, wild bird or reptile which is in captivity or under control of any person.

"Minister" means the Minister of Agriculture

"owner" in relation to an animal, includes any person having the possession, charge, custody or control of that animal.

"police officer" Includes a member of any force established under any law for the carrying out of police powers, duties or functions.

"veterinarian" means a person registered as such under the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act, 1982. (Act No. 19 of 1982)

2. OFFENCES IN RESPECT OF ANIMALS - (1) Any person who:

(a) overloads, overdrives, overrides, ill-treats, neglects, infuriates, tortures or maims or cruelly beats, kicks, goads or terrifies any animal; or

(b) Confines, chains, tethers or secures any animal unnecessarily or under such conditions or in such a manner or position as to cause that animal unnecessary suffering or in any place which affords inadequate space, ventilation, light protection or shelter from heat, cold or weather; or

(c) Unnecessarily starves or under-feeds or denies water or food to any animal; or

(d) lays or exposes any poisoned fluid or edible matter or infectious agents except for the destruction of vermin or marauding domestic animals or without taking reasonable precautions to prevent injury or disease being caused to animals; or

(e) being the owner of any animal, deliberately or negligently keeps such animal in a dirty or parasitic condition or allows it to become infected with external parasites or fails to render or procure veterinary or other medical treatment or attention which he is able to render or procure for any such animal in need of such treatment or attention, whether through disease, injury, delivery of young or any other cause, or fails to destroy or cause to be destroyed any such animal which is so seriously injured or diseased or in such a physical condition that to prolong its life would be cruel and would cause such animal unnecessary suffering; or

(f) uses on or attaches to any animal any equipment, appliance or vehicle which causes or will cause injury to such animal or which is loaded, used or attached in such a manner as will cause such animal to be injured or become diseased or to suffer unnecessarily; or

(g) save for the purpose of training hounds maintained by a duly established and registered vermin club in the destruction of vermin, liberates any animal in such a manner or place as to expose it to immediate attack or danger of attack by other animals or by wild animals, or baits or provokes any animal or incites any animal to attack another animal; or

(h) liberates any bird in such a manner as to expose it to immediate attack or danger of attack by animals, wild animals or wild birds; or

(i) drives or uses any animal which is so diseased or so injured or in such a physical condition that it is unfit to be driven or to do any work; or

(j) lays any trap or other device for the purpose of capturing or destroying any animal, wild animal or wild bird the destruction of which is not proved to be necessary for the protection of property or for the prevention of the spread of disease; or

(k) having laid any such trap or other device fails either himself or through some competent person to inspect and clear such trap or device at least once each day; or

(l) Except under the authority of a permit issued by the magistrate of the district concerned, sells any trap or other device intended for the capture of any animal, including any wild animal (not being a rodent) or wild bird, to any person who is not a bona fide farmer; or

(m) Conveys, carries, confines, secures, restrains or tethers any animal -

(i) under such conditions or in such a manner or position or for such a period of time or over such a distance as to cause that animal unnecessary suffering; or

(ii) in conditions affording inadequate shelter, light or ventilation or in which such animal is excessively exposed to heat, cold, weather, sun, rain, dust, exhaust gases or noxious fumes; or

(iii) without making adequate provision for suitable food, potable water and rest for such animal in circumstances where it is necessary; or

(n) without reasonable cause administers to any animal any poisonous or injurious drug or substance; or

(o) [Para. (o) Deleted by s. 2 of Act No. 42 of 1992.]

(p) being the owner of any animal, deliberately or without reasonable cause or excuse, abandons it, whether permanently or not, in circumstances likely to cause that animal unnecessary suffering; or

(q) causes, procures or assists in the commission or omission of any of the aforesaid acts or, being the owner of any animal, permits the commission or omission of any such act; or

(r) by wantonly or unreasonably or negligently doing or omitting to do any act or causing or procuring the commission or omission of any act, causes any unnecessary suffering to any animal; or

(s) kills any animal in contravention of a prohibition in terms of a notice published in the Gazette under subsection (3) of this section, shall, subject to the provisions of this Act and any other law, be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months or to such imprisonment without the option of a fine .

(2) For the purposes of sub-section (1) the owner of any animal shall be deemed to have permitted or procured the commission or omission of any act in relation to that animal if by the exercise of reasonable care and supervision in respect of that animal he could have prevented the commission or omission of such act.

(3) The Minister may by notice in the Gazette prohibit the killing of an animal specified in the notice with the intention of using the skin or meat or any other part of such animal for commercial purposes.

2A. Animal fights - (1) Any person who -

(a) possesses, keeps, imports, buys, sells, trains, breeds or has under his control an animal for the purpose of fighting any other animal;

(b) baits or provokes or incites any animal to attack another animal or to proceed with the fighting of another animal;

(c) for financial gain or as a form of amusement promotes animal fights;

(d) allows any of the acts referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) to take place on any premises or place in his possession or under his charge or control;

(e) owns, uses or controls any place or premises or place for the purpose or partly for the purpose of presenting animal fights on any such premises or place or who acts or assists in the management of any such premises or place, or who receives any consideration for the admission of any person to any such premises or place; or

(f) is present as a spectator at any premises or place where any of the acts referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c) is taking place or where preparations are being made for such acts, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.

(2) In any prosecution in terms of subsection (1) it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that an animal which is found at any premises or place is the property or under the control of the owner of that premises or place, or is the property or under the control of the person who uses or is in control of the premises or place.

(3) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law, a magistrate's court shall have jurisdiction to impose any penalty provided for in this section.

3. Powers of court - (1) Whenever a person is convicted of an offence in terms of this Act in respect of any animal, the court convicting him may in addition to any punishment imposed upon him in respect of that offence -

(a) Order such animal to be destroyed if in the opinion of the court it would be cruel to keep such animal alive;

(b) Order that the person convicted be deprived of the ownership of such an animal;

(c) Declare the person convicted to be unfit to own or be in charge of any animal, or of any animal of a specified kind, for a specified period;

(d) Make any order with regard to such animal as it deems fit to give effect to any order or declaration made under any of the preceding paragraphs.

(2) Any person who is found in possession or in charge of any animal in contravention of a declaration made in terms of paragraph (c) of sub-section (1), shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalties prescribed in sub-section (1) of section two.

4. Power of court to award damages - (1) Whenever any person is convicted by a magistrate's court of an offence under this Act and it is proved that such person has by the commission of that offence caused loss to any other person or that any other person has as the result of such offence incurred expense in providing necessary veterinary attention or treatment, food or accommodation for any animal in respect of which the offence was committed or in caring for such animal pending the making of an order by the court for the disposal thereof, the court may, on application by such other person or by the person conducting the prosecution acting on the instructions of such other person, summarily enquire into and determine the amount of the loss so caused or expense so incurred and give judgement against the person convicted and in favour of such for the amount so determined, but not exceeding an amount of R5 000.

(2) Any such judgement shall have effect as if it had been given in a civil action duly instituted before such court.

(3) The provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply in respect of -

(a) any costs incurred in connection with the custody of an animal seized in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977), for the purposes of a prosecution in terms of this Act; and

(b) any costs incurred in connection with the destruction of an animal in terms of an order under paragraph (a) of sub-section (1) of section three and the removal and burial or destruction of the carcass.

5. When police officer may destroy any animal - (1) Whenever a police officer is of the opinion that any animal is so diseased or severely injured or in such a physical condition that it ought to be destroyed, he shall, if the owner be absent or refuses to consent to the destruction of the animal, at once summon a veterinarian or, if there is no veterinarian within reasonable distance, two adult persons whom he considers to be reliable and of sound judgement, and if such veterinarian or adult person after having duly examined such an animal certify that the animal is so diseased or so severely injured or in such a physical condition that it would be cruel to keep it alive, such police officer may without the consent of the owner destroy the animal or cause it to be destroyed with such instruments or appliances and with such precautions and in such a manner as to inflict as little suffering as practicable.

(2) Any police officer who destroys any animal or causes it to be destroyed in the absence of the owner shall, if such owner's name and address are known, advise him of the destruction, and where the destruction of any animal takes place on any place or public road shall, subject to the provisions of the Animal Disease Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984), remove the carcass or cause it to be removed there from.

(3) A veterinarian may in respect of any animal exercise the powers conferred by sub-section (1) upon a police officer without summoning another veterinarian, police officer or any other person, and in respect of such of exercise of those powers the provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply.

(4) Any expenses, which may reasonably incurred by any police officer or veterinarian in carrying out the provisions of this section may be recovered from the owner of the animal in question as a civil debt.

(5) It shall be a defence to an action brought against any person arising out of the destruction of an animal by him or with his authority, to prove that such animal was so severely injured or so diseased or in such a physical condition that it would have been cruel to have kept it alive, and that to summon a police officer or follow the procedure prescribed in this section would have occasioned unreasonable delay and unnecessary suffering to such animal.

6. Pound master may recover expenses - Any pound master shall be entitled to recover from the owner of any impounded animal any reasonable expenses necessarily incurred by him in rendering or providing veterinary or medical attention for such animal.

7. Owner may be summoned to produce animal for inspection by court - (1) A court trying any person for an alleged offence under this Act may summon the owner of that animal in respect of which such offence is alleged to have been committed to produce that animal at a time and place stated in the summons for inspection by the court.

(2) Any person who without satisfactory excuse fails to comply with a summons issued in terms of sub-section (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalties prescribed in sub-section (1) of section two.

8. Powers of officers of society for prevention of cruelty to animals - (1) If authorized thereto by writing under the hand of the magistrate of a district, any officer of any society for the prevention of cruelty to animals may in that district -

(a) Without warrant and at any time with the consent of the owner or occupier, or failing such consent on obtaining an order from a magistrate, enter any premises where any animal is kept, for the purpose of examining the conditions under which it is so kept;

(b) Without warrant arrest any person who is suspected on reasonable grounds of having committed an offence under this Act, if there is reason to believe that the ends of justice would be defeated by the delay in obtaining a warrant;

(c) On the arrest of any person on a charge of an offence under this Act, seize any animal or thing in the possession or custody of that person at the time of the arrest and take it forthwith to a police officer, who shall deal with it in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of 1977);

(d) Exercise in respect of any animal the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section five upon a police officer and in respect of such exercise of those powers, the provisions of the said section shall mutatis mutandis apply.

(2) Any authority granted under sub-section (1) may at any time for good cause be revoked by the magistrate of the district.

(3) An officer to whom authority has been granted under sub-section (1) shall, when required to do so in the exercise of his powers, produce that authority for inspection.

(4) Any person who wilfully obstructs, hinders or resists an officer authorized under sub-section (1) in the exercise of the powers conferred upon him or conceals any animal or thing with an intent to defeat the exercise of such powers, or who upon demand fails to give his name and address to such officer, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalties set out in sub-section (1) of section two.

9. Costs may be awarded against vexatious complainant - If at the trial of any person on a charge of an offence under this Act, the court is satisfied that any person or body has without reasonable cause and vexatiously lodged or caused to be lodged the complaint which led to such trial, it may award costs, including attorney and client costs, on the magistrate's court scale, against such person or body as if the proceedings were civil proceedings between the accused and such person or body.

10. Regulations - (1) The Minister may make regulations relating to -

(a) The method and form of confinement and accommodations for any animal or class, species or variety of animals, whether travelling or stationary;

(b) Any other reasonable requirements, which may be necessary to prevent cruelty to or suffering of any animal;

(c) The seizure, impounding, custody or confining of any animal due to any condition of such animal, the disposal or destruction of such animal and the recovery of expenses incurred in connection therewith from the owner of such animal; and

(d) Generally such matters as are required for the better carrying out of the objects and purposes of this Act.

(2) Such regulations may prescribe penalties for contravention thereof or failure to comply therewith not exceeding a fine of R4 000 or imprisonment for a period of twelve months.

11. Repeal of laws - The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1914 (Act No. 8 of 1914), the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1914, Amendment Act, 1922 (Act No. 10 of 1928), and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Act, 1949 (Act No. 28 of 1949), are hereby repealed.

12. Short title and commencement - This Act shall be called the Animals Protection Act, 1962 and shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the State President by proclamation in the Gazette.

ANIMAL MATTERS AMENDMENT ACT, 1993

ACT NO. 14, 1993 16 APRIL 1993

ANIMAL MATTERS AMENDMENT ACT, 1993

(Assented to 25 March 1993) (Government Gazette 16 April 1993)

(Afrikaans text signed by the State President)

To provide for directions in respect of injuries caused by animals: to amend the Animals Protection Act, 1962, so as to further regulate the prohibition of animal fights: and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Be it enacted by the State President and the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa as follows:

Directions in respect of injuries caused by animals

1. (1) Any person as a result of whose negligence an animal causes injury to another person, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.

(2) Whenever a person is convicted of an offence in terms of subsection (1), the court convicting him may in addition to any punishment imposed upon him in respect of that offence -

(a) make any order relating to the removal, custody, disposal or destruction of the animal concerned and the recovery of any costs incurred in connection therewith;

(b) declare the person convicted to be unfit, for a specified period, to own a certain kind of animal or an animal of a specific breed or to have it under his control or in his custody;

(3) Subsection (2) shall mutatis mutandis apply if any person -

(a) as a result of whose negligence an animal causes the death of another person is found guilty of an offence with regard to such negligence;

(b) as a result of whose deliberate action an animal causes the death of or injury to another person is found guilty of an offence with regard to such action.

(4) The Minister of Justice may from time to time, with the concurrence of the Minister of State Expenditure, appropriate funds to a society for costs incurred relating to the removal, custody, disposal or destruction of an animal.

(5) (a) A person who has in terms of subsection (2)(b) been declared unfit, for a specified period, to own a certain kind of animal or an animal of a specific breed or to have it under his control or in his custody, shall, if at the time of the declaration he owns or has under his control or in his custody such an animal and such animal is not destroyed in terms of subsection (2) (a), within 14 days from the date on which such declaration was made, make alternative arrangements for the caring of the animal for the period for which he is declared unfit to own such an animal or to have under his control or in his custody.

(b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (a), any person who owns or has under his control or in his custody an animal in contravention of a declaration made in terms of subsection (2) (b), shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year.

(6) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law, a magistrate's court shall have jurisdiction to impose any penalty, which is provided for in this section.

Short Title

2. This Act shall be called the Animal Matters Amendment Act, 1993