Couple fined R10‚000 fine for inhumane treatment of rabbits

A couple have each been sentenced to a R10‚000 fine or six months in prison after over a thousand rabbits were found crammed in cages in a garage at their home in the Free State.

Hendrik and Belinda van Wyk pleaded guilty on four charges in terms of the Animals Protection Act in the Odenaalsrus Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) said on Thursday that a joint investigation by the SPCA in Welkom and Virginia in May 2015 had found that the rabbits were severely maltreated.

“The rabbits were infected with internal and external parasites‚ had bleeding sores under their feet from being exposed to wire hutches with no place to rest their feet.

“The hutches were overcrowded‚ with very little or no room for the rabbits to move freely.

“Dead offspring were left in the bare cages with their mothers‚” said the NSPCA.

The couple admitted to having slaughtered rabbits at a residential address that was not an abattoir for commercial purposes.

Furthermore‚ during the SPCA investigation‚ the accused conveyed the rabbits‚ including kittens and lactating mothers‚ in such a manner that caused suffering and which resulted in broken legs and other injuries.

“The animals were handed out - including lactating mothers and offspring. Fortunately‚ many caring people admitted they were unable to care for the animals and surrendered surviving rabbits to the SPCA‚” said the NSPCA.

While many of the rabbits had “suffered inhumane deaths‚” the SPCA undertook to rescue rabbits that had been released to fend for themselves in adverse weather conditions and without shelter.

The Van Wyks were each sentenced to a fine of R10‚000 or six months imprisonment in terms of Section 276 (1) (b) of Act 51 of 1977 and a further 12 months imprisonment in terms of Section 276 (1) (b) of Act 51 of 1977‚ wholly suspended for a period of 5 years.

“Both accused were declared unfit to own or possess any animal‚” the NSPCA said.