Fireworks kill family pet

2006-01-02 22:00

Liesl Pretorius

Johannesburg - A family of animal lovers in Vanderbijlpark is grief-stricken because one of their seven dogs, presumably hit by fireworks, had to be put down.

"One side of her head and neck was burnt. Everything was raw," said construction worker Arthur Jackson, 28, who found Lady, a Staffie, at about 02:00 on Sunday.

Lady was hiding among the shrubs in the front garden when Jackson came home. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) had to put her down because of the extent of her injuries.

Jackson's father Robert, a systems analyst who was out of town at the time of the incident, said Lady had been born on their property. Her 14-year-old mother Noela still lives with the Jacksons.

Family 'heartbroken'

"Dogs are born here and they die here."

His wife Ria manages a dog salon.

Jackson sen said the family was "heartbroken". They took a great deal of trouble to protect their animals from the consequences of fireworks at this time by giving them tranquilisers.

"We love animals. I've never been without a dog," he said.

Johannesburg Metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar believes more Johannesburg residents obeyed the fireworks regulations this year compared to last year.

He said almost 140 complaints about fireworks had been reported in the past week. About 80% (112) of these complainants did not seem to know the stipulations of the municipal regulations on fireworks. Johannesburg residents were allowed to set off fireworks from 23:00 on New Year's Eve until 01:00 on New Year's Day, and from 19:00 to 22:00 on 1 January.

These regulations came into effect in May last year.

People who set off fireworks without a permit outside these times could be fined R500. The fine for fireworks set off in the presence of an animal was R1 000.

- Beeld