The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) is preparing to lay animal cruelty charges against police officials following the death of a South African Police Service (SAPS) dog.
Sky, a five-year-old Belgian Malinois, was an arson detection dog working for SAPS.
She was found severely injured inside her kennel in September and was later taken to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital for emergency treatment.
Sky had previously been diagnosed with kennel stress and anxiety in March, with veterinarians recommending that she be boarded.
However, Parliament’s Police Portfolio Committee chairperson Ian Cameron says the boarding arrangements were delayed.
Cameron alleges that several police officers had offered to take Sky home temporarily while alternative arrangements were being made, but their requests were not acted upon.
Sky was found with a broken leg and an open fracture. She had also lost several teeth and had previously attempted to escape from the kennels.
Despite receiving emergency veterinary care, her condition deteriorated and she was eventually humanely euthanised.
SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the decision was taken on humane grounds, with Sky’s welfare and dignity prioritised.
Mathe said the police service was aware of concerns surrounding the circumstances that led to Sky’s injuries and had launched an internal investigation.
The NSPCA says its Special Projects Unit inspected the facility where Sky was housed as part of its investigation.
The organisation also met with SAPS and reviewed Sky’s veterinary records, treatment history and post-mortem report.
According to the NSPCA, its investigation found that Sky had been kept in conditions that resulted in unnecessary suffering.
The organisation says it is now preparing to lay animal cruelty charges against the police officials allegedly responsible.
The matter is expected to face further scrutiny as both the NSPCA investigation and SAPS internal probe continue.