In a shocking incident at the OR Tambo International Airport on Friday morning a woman allegedly threw her dog from the third floor balcony.
The dog sustained serious injuries and had to be euthanised, the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) said in a statement.
Grace de Lange, SPCA’s Chief Operations Officer said while much of the country was looking forward to the weekend, National Senior Inspector Arno de Klerk and National Senior Inspector Denise Govender were grappling with an utterly horrific incident.
“At approximately 11am Senior Inspector de Klerk received an urgent call from the state vet, asking if the NSPCA was aware of a horrific incident that had occurred at OR Tambo Airport in the early hours of that morning.
De Lange said a French woman had travelled from France to Johannesburg, on her way to Brazil.
“She boarded the plane with her dog, after purchasing a ticket for the extra "passenger", and arrived in South Africa on Wednesday.
“At approximately 3:30am on Friday video footage from the Airport Company South Africa (ACSA) shows the woman strolling through the Atrium at OR Tambo International Airport, with her small black dog running freely.
“As the dog reaches her, the woman picks the dog up and callously throws it over the balcony railing,” de Lange alleged.
She added that the dog did not die but was badly injured.
“The dog, severely injured and bleeding from the mouth, lay on the ground, barely alive but still clinging to life.
“Airport officials immediately contacted the Kempton Park SPCA for assistance.
“Inspectors from the SPCA arrived at the scene and took the suffering dog into their care.
“At a nearby veterinary hospital, it was confirmed that the dog had sustained extensive internal injuries and was euthanised to end its suffering.”
She said officials halted the woman’s flight to Brazil to investigate.
“A check of the passenger manifest revealed that the elderly woman was not listed as having boarded the flight, meaning she was still within the airport.”
She said the NSPCA would be opening a case with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“The NSPCA is both shocked and appalled by this incident. There is an alert out for the woman responsible for this horrific act and we will not rest until she is brought to justice.
“The NSPCA remains steadfast in its commitment to hold accountable anyone involved in animal cruelty, regardless of their nationality or age,” de Lange said.
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