The Chairperson of the Portfolio on Police, Mr Ian Cameron, will open a case about serious injuries sustained by South African Police Service (SAPS) dog Sky and he has referred the circumstances surrounding the injuries to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) and the South African Veterinary Council.
Sky is a Belgian Shepherd previously used by SAPS as an arson-detection dog. According to information provided to Mr Cameron, the dog suffered from severe anxiety and had previously injured herself after escaping from a kennel.
Relevant SAPS management officials were allegedly warned repeatedly that continued confinement placed Sky at risk. Requests were reportedly made for the dog to be removed temporarily from the kennel environment while arrangements concerning its future care were finalised. Those warnings and requests were allegedly not acted upon.
On Monday morning, the dog was found seriously injured in its kennel at the SAPS veterinary facility at Roodeplaat. The information presently available indicates that the dog’s left front leg became caught in or against the kennel gate. It reportedly sustained multiple fractures of the left carpus, including an open fracture through the skin, as well as cuts to her face and leg and extensive bleeding.
The dog was transported to Onderstepoort for emergency treatment. Its injuries were reportedly so serious that veterinarians were concerned about placing it under anaesthesia for surgery. These allegations must now be tested against the veterinary evidence, CCTV footage, duty rosters, kennel-inspection records and the testimony of those responsible for the facility.
The critical question is whether SAPS can be trusted to operate an animal hospital if animals with known medical and behavioural risks are allegedly left without adequate supervision.
“If Roodeplaat is registered and presented as an animal hospital, what after-hours service and in-patient monitoring does it provide?”, asked Mr Cameron. “If personnel were present, why was Sky’s distress apparently not detected and stopped?”
If nobody was present, does the facility comply with the requirements applicable to an animal hospital, the Chairperson queried further. “I have asked the NSPCA to conduct an urgent and independent inspection. I have also asked the South African Veterinary Council to investigate the facility’s registration, professional conduct, staffing, supervision and compliance with applicable veterinary standards.”
The investigation must establish who had custody and control of the dog, who received the warnings, who was responsible for checking the kennels and why no effective preventative action was taken. The officials in command must be criminally investigated where the evidence establishes that they knew of the risk, had a duty and ability to act, and failed to do so. Where sufficient evidence exists, those responsible must be prosecuted.
Mr Cameron said this is not an attack on the many dedicated SAPS dog handlers who care deeply for their animals. “It is an accountability issue concerning the systems and senior management responsible for protecting animals placed in the care of the state.”
Mr Cameron said the identities of persons who provided information concerning this matter will not be disclosed publicly. In addition, SAPS must ensure that no employee or witness suffers intimidation, retaliation or occupational detriment for assisting a lawful investigation.
SAPS relies on service dogs to detect explosives, drugs, human remains and evidence at serious crime scenes. These animals cannot speak for themselves and cannot escape the systems that control every aspect of their lives.
The Roodeplaat facility should remain open only if it can meet the legal, professional and welfare standards required of an animal hospital. If it cannot, its present registration and continued operation must be reconsidered.
Mr Cameron emphasised that all relevant CCTV footage, registers, veterinary records and internal communications must now be preserved. He said this matter cannot be left solely to an internal SAPS process.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
