The National Council of SPCA’s Special Projects Unit (SPU) is on the hunt for a group of teenagers after a dog was rescued from a fight in Johannesburg, earlier this month. Due to the severity of its injuries, the dog had to be put down.
A team of inspectors was travelling on the N12 in Joburg south when they noticed a commotion at the side of the highway.
When they alighted to inspect, officers saw a dog fight in progress and rushed to the animals' aid.
"Unable to access the site from the highway, the team quickly found an alternative route through a nearby residential area.
"It was there that they encountered a group of teenagers walking with two pitbull-type dogs. One dog, black in colour, appeared unharmed, while the other, brown and white, was visibly in agony, covered in blood, and suffering from several severe injuries.
NSPCA spokesperson Jacques Peacock stated that the youngsters fled upon seeing the inspectors, leaving the injured dog behind.
"Exhausted and unable to move, he collapsed in the road," he said.
The dog was placed in a crate in the vehicle as inspectors raced after the teenagers.
They managed to escape and the dog was taken to the NSPCA's consulting veterinarian, Dr Madock.
Dr Madock reported that the dog had a fractured leg, torn ears, and multiple deep puncture wounds.
"These are all signs of both past and recent dogfights," he added.
Peacock said the SPU is working hard to track down the teenagers who were last seen with the dog.
"The NSPCA urges anyone with information to come forward. Rewards may be offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of dogfighters," Peacock said.
IOL