Firstly, we would like to welcome Mel Hood to our team who has joined us as a Trainee Inspector.Since our last newsletter - VAWZ have been extremely busy! - we have dealt with cases involving lions in captivity, transportation of cattle, chicken abattoirs, puppy vendors, security dogs, race horses, animals at the University, the trafficking of puppies from South African "puppy farms", as well as all the day to day reports of cruelty concerning domestic animals. Our investigations have taken us to Chinhoyi, Karoi, Marondera, Guruve, Masvingo, Bulawayo, West Nicholson & Beit Bridge.
Pleased to say that we have won all our Cruelty cases that we have presented to the Police, & at last have got the Investigating Officers to treat each animal as a separate count (as provided for in the Act). We would like to stress that we only decide to prosecute if an animal has lost it's life as a result of the cruelty it suffered, or the accused has been repeatedly warned on several occasions.
DONKEY OUTREACH PROGRAMME
In some parts of Zimbabwe, yokes are still used on donkeys - this practice is illegal as a donkey does not have the muscles in the neck to carry the weight of a yoke - one that we
recently confiscated weighed 12kg!Thanks to the generous donation of a VAWZ supporter we have now purchased 68 pairs of harnesses which we have begun distributing in the Runde River area.
Picture 1: Bernard & Meryl treating a donkey with an eye problem
Picture 2: Great interest as VAWZ distributes the free harnesses in exchange for yokes
SECURITY DOGS
VAWZ inspects the very many security companies in the smaller towns in Zimbabwe, & often finds that the dogs are living under horrendous conditions. Recently following a check on a security kennel in the Midlands, we found conditions so unacceptable that VAWZ temporarily closed the kennels & all dogs were moved to Bulawayo & Kwekwe SPCA kennels. The owner was then given strict instructions on the improvements we wanted to see, failure to do so would result in the kennels being permanently closed & the owner would face prosecution.
Imagine our delight when on a follow up check some weeks later, we found the kennels had been totally rebuilt - dishes, water bowls, blankets & fly traps had been purchased. The company dogs were returned to the owner, with the exception of two of the dogs that were very old & were humanely put to sleep. The owner was also asked to pay for all expenses incurred by the SPCAs.
