SPCA charges vet with neglect
2004-05-18 23:31
Cape Town - A Swartland vet and horse breeder is facing 13 charges of animal abuse and neglect after the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals submitted a dossier on him to the police.
Inspectors from the SPCA horse unit seized 16 badly neglected horses at a farm in the Swartland in February.
The animals, of which 13 were race horses, were apparently severely underfed and dehydrated. Some of them were reported to have been at least 100kg below their normal weight.
According to Allan Perrins, operations manager for the horse unit at Grassy Park, the South African Veterinarian Association has been told about the SPCA's criminal action against the vet.
He has also been reported to the Western Cape department of the National Horse Racing Authorities. The SPCA is hoping he will have his licence to breed horses revoked.
According to Rochelle du Toit, an SPCA inspector, the growth of the fillies had been stunted, but that now "all the horses are in good condition".
The vet was in hot water two years ago after a similar situation came to the attention of the SPCA.
A court date for a hearing has yet to be determined.