The Bloemfontein Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) recently seized 5 vervet monkeys, 4 dogs, 1 tortoise and 11 chickens from a traditional healer in Bloemside who was later charged with animal cruelty.
This comes after the SPCA received a tip-off from members of the public about the monkeys who was kept in a garage. Upon their first visit to the property, the SPCA was denied entry by the owner, but they later returned with a warrant.
“Before we enter the property we waited for two hours for the owner, just to find out she was hiding inside her house. When we opened the garage where the monkeys were kept, we were shocked,” said the SPCA.
The organisation suspect that the monkeys have not seen sunlight in a long time as the garage was dark and very hot. The animals were also found without food or water in a dirty cage layered with feces and urine, which resulted in burns to the monkeys’ hands and back sides.
Upon further investigation the SPCA found a chained-down tortoise with no shelter or water. The tortoise had minimal movement due to the short chain.
Dogs were also found on the property with a Pitbull in bad condition and underweight. “The dogs were found with external parasites,” said the SPCA.
Eleven severely underweight chickens with warts were also found in a small cage.
According to the SPCA, during their visit the owner of the animals threw yellowish water on members of the organisation. “This was a very odd looking, yellowish substance, which we saw on the monkeys also,” said the SPCA.
All the animals have since been removed from the property and the owner was charged with animal cruelty.
Pierce van Heerden
