Pastor James Bennie from Eden Park was sentenced to two years imprisonment and his teenage nephew to two years house arrest for cruelty to animals.
On Thursday, July 12, after 20 appearances in court and numerous challenges, the court delivered their sentence. Both of the convicted were denied ownership of all animals.
In August 2016, the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) were alerted by a brave member of the public who reported that a teenage boy and his uncle, James Bennie, were involved in organised dogfighting at a property in Eden Park.
NSPCA inspector Nadia Hansa and senior inspector Kingstone Siziba of the Alberton SPCA immediately responded to the complaint. Upon arrival at the Eden Park property they found a horrifying scene of cruelty and long-term suffering. The inspectors found three pit bull terriers and five crossbreed dogs who were in severe distress.
A white pit bull terrier named Biscuit was found collapsed, unable to walk and covered in deep infected wounds. The two other pit bull dogs had similar wounds and were heavily scarred from past dogfights.
Instead of receiving treatment for these injuries suffered at the hands of their owners, the dogs had been left to starve on short chains without food or water. The crossbreed dogs were similarly emaciated and had a number of untreated injuries.
“The dual nature of this cruelty makes it all the more horrific. The dogs had clearly been used for organised dog fighting but instead of even a basic level of care after the fights, they had then been left chained up outside the back door to die slowly of their infected wounds and callous neglect,” said inspector Hansa.
The eight dogs were removed from the property and taken to the SPCA for immediate veterinary treatment. The three pit bulls, Biscuit, Bazooka and Boomer, and two of the crossbred dogs were in such a state of infection, starvation and collapse that they sadly had to be euthanised.
The NSPCA commends these strong sentences and thanks Magistrate Martini for taking a powerful stand against this violent and destructive crime. In his judgement the magistrate recognised that “these dogs suffered severely in the hands of the accused.”
Following the court’s decision to deny ownership to the convicted, the NSPCA conducted a follow-up inspection at the property today and found 12 dogs which have been removed.
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