Animal-rights group harmed dogs, says circus

• Published date: 25 April 2024
• Author: Yolande Du Preez yolande.dupreez@acm.co.za
• Publication title: False Bay Echo

The tables were turned on Beauty Without Cruelty South Africa after its members picketed outside the McLaren Circus with dogs on leashes on Thursday April 11

McLaren Circus spokesperson, Karl Hildebrandt, said they were “shocked and appalled” by how the protesters had handled the dogs on leashes along a busy road for an hour without drinking water.

A megaphone used by one of the protesters had caused visible distress to the dogs, which had been “somewhat aggressive” with one another, and they had been choked and dragged away by their collars, he said.

The organisation had violated the City’s Streets, Public Places, and the Prevention of Noise Nuisances By-law, he said, questioning whether it had had a valid permit to have dogs at the protest.

There had also been no animal welfare inspector present in terms of Section 8(1) of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962, he said.

Cape of Good Hope SPCA chief inspector, Jaco Pieterse, said they took any allegations of animal mistreatment, irrespective of the context in which they occurred, very seriously and would “ thoroughly investigate”.

Mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment, Eddie Andrews, said the City had amended Beauty Without...