Pastor faces animal abuse charges
"Judging by the amount of faeces in the kennel, is it clear that the dogs were closed in for a long time."
It is a sad day when a pastor of a church is facing charges of animal abuse and neglect.
According to the manager of the Roodepoort SPCA, Mandy Cattanach, they received a complaint about two stray dogs roaming the area. An additional complaint suggested that the dogs were on the property of Santa Grace Church.
“Senior inspector Eric Taljaard was sent out to inspect the church grounds and found two German Sheppard crosses were confined to a wooden kennel for lengthy periods,” Cattanach said. “Judging by the amount of faeces in the kennel, is it clear that the dogs were closed in for a long time.”
She said due to the dogs being confined and forced to sit in their own urine and faeces, the acid and waste have burnt their paws. “The dogs are being monitored very closely. We are not sure to what extent their lungs have been affected by the ammonia smell.”
Taljaard said the property was secure enough for the dogs to run free or to section off an area for the dogs to live in. People are scared of them.
Cattanach said Taljaard returned to the property on Monday (13 February) to confront the pastor but he refused to leave the building.
The dogs are male and female and both are tan in colour.
“It is sad and shocking that a man, who claims to be a man of God, can behave in this manner. Not even a pastor can be trusted not to abuse and neglect his animals,” Cattanach concluded.
The pastor could not be reached for comment.
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