Last week brought great news for animal lovers in Cape Town. After countless reports and many attempts to catch him in the act, the notorious Du Noon animal hawker has finally been apprehended by authorities. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA, who had pledged to ensure justice for the animal victims of the hawker, worked tirelessly to make this happen.
A Joint Effort
The SPCA’s teams lauded the support they received from fellow animal lovers, rescuers and the swift response of the City of Cape Town’s Animal Control Unit. The hawker, known for changing clothes every 30 minutes to avoid identification by authorities, was finally caught with the help of one individual who feigned interest in an animal for sale.
Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse, who was present at the scene, expressed gratitude that the animal abuser would finally face his day in court. Following the arrest, a search of his home was undertaken to ensure that no animals were in need of help. Fortunately, no animals were found, and the accused will now face charges under Section 13(17) of the City of Cape Town Animal Keeping By Law and the Animals Protection Act No. 71 of 1962.
Perpetuating a Cycle of Cruelty
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has reminded animal lovers that buying animals from anyone trying to sell them on the roadside perpetuates a cycle of cruelty and abuse. Sales create demand, and it’s important to remember that leaving an animal in distress behind and reporting the cruelty is the right thing to do.
Reports of animal cruelty can be made by contacting the inspectorate at 0217004158/9 or online.
This case demonstrates the importance of working together to ensure that those who exploit animals for personal gain are brought to justice. By doing our part and reporting any cruelty that we witness, we can help put an end to animal abuse in Cape Town.
