WINDHOEK- A horrific and brutal case of animal cruelty involving a two-month-old puppy, whose ears were hacked off to its skull and left to die, has shocked the Windhoek SPCA and general public.

The agonised creature was picked up in Brakwater with two huge gaping holes in its head which were bleeding profusely.  A concerned citizen rescued the traumatised animal and took him to the Windhoek SPCA’s Vet Clinic, where he is undergoing a slow healing process.

Resident SPCA vet Dr Simone Herzog told the press this week that it was one of the worst cases of cruelty she had seen of late, and could not understand what drives a person to perform such a barbaric act on a helpless puppy, or any animal for that matter.
She explained that both ears had been sliced off very close to the puppy’s skull and that the gash went from the top of its head down to its neck.

To stitch the wound she had to pull the skin together very tightly, but was pleased with the progress he was making.  She also said that the injured dog would thankfully be going to a good home once he was healed and the stitches removed.
“This kind of inhumane treatment towards an animal is unacceptable, and people in our society should not behave like this,” said Herzog.

 “I am afraid that many animals fall into the hands of cruel human beings and are being tortured and made to suffer every day – we just don’t know about them.  

“But this cruelty case has attracted a lot of attention and public outrage, and in a way this brave little puppy is an ambassador for all those animals whose cries for help have fallen on deaf ears.”

The vetenary clinic which is only accessible to low- or no-income earners, at a minimum fee treats on average ten out-patients a day, with treatment covering all types of sickness, injuries and vaccinations, as well as spaying and neutering. Herzog and her team also tend to the daily health care of around 400 dogs and cats that are being kennelled at any given time at the SPCA.  

She also said that Namibians need to become more responsible towards caring for their pets, and that cruelty cases must be reported to the SPCA or to the police.  No charges of cruelty have been laid in the case of the earless puppy, as the offender is unknown. However, the SPCA would welcome any information regarding the matter.

Meanwhile the Windhoek SPCA animal shelter which relies solely on donations to keep it going, is heaving under the burden of the growing number of abandoned dogs and cats brought to the kennels.

The public are welcome to visit the kennels which are open from Monday to Sunday and view the many dogs and cats looking for good  homes.