Horror Husky Killing

(2007-06-27)

Horror Husky Killing - Guilty plea but case WILL go to trial

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) is aware of the petition circulating by e-mail which states that signatures are required to ensure that “He gets the maximum of 3 years.”

The NSPCA appreciates the public strength of feeling on this case and is heartened by it. We share the public’s outrage, horror and wish to be heard. The motivation of persons who initiated the petition and of those who signed it electronically are undoubted and we share their sentiments.

We wish to stress that there are TWO accused in this case and the NSPCA wishes to see the full strength of the law come down heavily on both of them, Mr Sirate as well as Mr Matthysen.

The SPCA movement has not involved itself in the e-mail petition primarily because we believe that in this instance, the authorities have acted faultlessly and deserve the highest praise. The accused were arrested swiftly. The case came to Court within a short period of time. The Prosecutor is doing a wonderful job. The Magistrate refused to accept a plea of guilt and an admission of guilt fine. The case will go to trial.

The NSPCA brought this issue to the public attention. The SPCA in Springs has been assisting with the case.

We need the public to be vocal and to express feelings when all issues of cruelty, neglect or abuse of animals occur: - we do mean abuse to any animal. Public pressure can indeed make meaningful change. The NSPCA and SPCAs country-wide handle literally hundreds of cases, each one shocking and each one deserving of public empathy.

The end objective of the petition is not clear. If it is calling for stronger penalties in terms of the Animals Protection Act, we certainly agree. It has to be borne in mind that potential or maximum penalties in terms of any Act and what judges or magistrates hand down as sentences are not the same thing. If this petition is prescribing to the Magistrate what sentence should be handed down in this particular case before it has been heard, then we fear it may even jeopardise the case itself.

It is the firm opinion of the SPCA movement that rather than calling for the “upping” of fines, it would be of greater value to establish Courts specific or dedicated to cases of cruelty to animals, that is, where animal-related cases are heard separately and exclusively.