Six Pitbulls removed and three individuals arrested for illegal ear cropping in Lotus River

- South Africa -

Following an appeal to the public by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, three arrests were made as part of a ”sting operation in Lotus River”, announced the organization.

The nonprofit launched an investigation into illegal ear cropping on dogs.

A search warrant executed on a Lotus River property, led Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse, along with Inspector Siviwe Noko and the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement Animal Control Unit to uncover the illegal operation in the backyard of the residence.

Officials found six Pitbulls on short static chains. The dogs were kept in dirty and unhygienic living conditions.

Inside the home inspectors found paraphernalia including, scheduled drugs, a toolbox containing suture material, medical scissors, and other equipment generally used for cropping of ears.

The SPCA said that the majority of medications found were scheduled medicines and not for use without a prescription or the clinical oversight of a veterinarian or medical doctor.

Grassy Park Police Station responded to the scene and confiscated the scheduled medicine and two cellphones as part of the evidence.

Chief Inspector Pieterse informed the dogs’ guardians that the SPCA was going to seize all the Pitbulls.

At that point, the three suspects, whom have not been publicly named, became very aggressive and one of them told Inspector Pieterse: “we will see what happens if we try to take our dogs.”

The owner of the property interfered by locking the front door and police had to intervene.

A total of six innocent Pitbulls were removed from the hellish situation and taken to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA facility in Grassy Park.

The three individuals, aged between 51 and 54, were taken into custody on animal cruelty charges among others.

News 24 reports that they were released on Saturday, February 26, on a warning to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court.

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