A Phalaborwa man and his mother are facing criminal charges following the death of a dog that allegedly endured roughly 14 months of avoidable suffering. The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) confirmed it opened a case under the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 against the pair.
The matter came to light on 29 January when the NSPCA received a disturbing video depicting a black German Shepherd-type dog dragging its hind legs and relying solely on its front limbs to move. In the footage, a man can be heard insisting, "This dog wants to live," despite the animal's visible distress. NSPCA communications lead Samanta Stelli said a trainee inspector first encountered the dog during a routine area inspection in January this year.
Efforts by local animal welfare officers to step in were met with hostility. "When the Phalaborwa SPCA's trainee inspector attempted to intervene, the owner became aggressive and physically shoved the inspector off the property," Stelli told media. Veterinary records indicated the dog had been suffering since November 2024, and a vet had recommended euthanasia at that time, yet the suspects opted to keep the animal alive.
Owing to the gravity of the case and the owners' refusal to cooperate, the NSPCA dispatched an inspector to the area and secured a warrant from the Phalaborwa Magistrate's Court. When officials arrived at the property accompanied by members of the South African Police Service and local SPCA representatives, they were told the dog had already perished and been buried in the backyard.
The suspects declined to produce the remains, telling the inspector that if authorities wished to view the animal, they would have to exhume it themselves. The carcass was subsequently dug up and positively identified by comparing the hind leg positioning with the earlier video footage. A post-mortem examination revealed severe chafing injuries to the legs and joint abnormalities consistent with prolonged suffering, though the precise cause of death could not be determined.
