Municipality still wants animals at park

Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay Municipality tabled a report on the animals which were at Harry Giddey Park in a special council meeting on Monday, 18 November.

The report was compiled by Mossel Bay municipal manager Colin Puren.

The purpose of it was to provide council with information relating to the report received by the Garden Route SPCA and discussed the organisation's findings at the park, its recommendations and the municipality's own recommendations for the park.

Acknowledged

The municipal report acknowledged that the conditions in which the animals were kept were "non-satisfactory". It noted there were inspections by the GRSPCA in September and again in October.

A meeting was held on 10 October between the municipality and the GRSPCA, where the organisation requested all the park animals be signed over to the GRSPCA.

Eight tortoises were, in the interim, taken from the park to be tested by a vet in George for disease, after they were found to have nasal and ocular discharge, difficulty breathing and were emaciated.

The tests confirmed they were infected with mycoplasma, a highly infectious disease that makes the animal a carrier of the disease for life. Thus, all 52 tortoises were euthanised on 15 October.

The process of removing the other animals and testing for diseases in the birds then began. On 23 October, blood samples were taken from 27 birds from all enclosures.

They tested positive for psittacine beak and feather disease and the vet suggested they be euthanised. There is no cure or treatment for this disease. It was also discovered that the captivity permit from CapeNature had expired.

The report stated that breeding of animals and birds was occurring, and "confirmation that staff were allowed to move, remove, bring in, or even allow the public to donate animals, were received from staff and management".

It noted: "All of this was happening without proper records of veterinary assessments and without the isolation of donated animals, which was a serious concern." It said that no Performing Animals Protection Act licence had been produced to date, meaning the park could not be opened for any visitors and that no animals may be exhibited.

Recommendations

The GRSPCA, in terms of the Animal Protection Act, No 71 of 1962 (1) (e), (q) and (r), made the following recommendations:

1) The municipality, as the owner, considers closing Harry Giddey Park and not replacing the animals.

2) The municipality should acknowledge the neglect and abandonment of the animals by failing to meet all their needs, including: dietary provision, environmental enrichment, parasite control, veterinary assessment and treatment, biosecurity measures, isolation facilities, record keeping, management practices, overstocking and breeding control.

3) Due to human ignorance, it seems the animals at the park are viewed as a necessity rather than a privilege and that the following "freedoms" must be taken into consideration: Freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, injury or disease, fear, and distress and freedom to express normal behaviour.

Muncipal feedback

1) The municipality's recommendations are that the GRSPCA's report be accepted.

2) Inspections found the conditions of the animals to be non-satisfactory.

3) The municipality commended the GRSPCA for its selfless service to the community and cooperation with regards to the animals' wellbeing at the park.

4) A comprehensive internal investigation has been mandated and the outcome will be dealt with in terms of the relevant applicable legislation and delegations of the municipality.

5) The municipality considers animals a privilege and all the "freedoms" will be adhered to.

6) The animal enclosers will continue, but the future of the enclosures and animals kept will be dealt with in close cooperation with the GRSPCA and other experts in the field. This includes deciding which types of animals will be kept and obtaining all necessary permits and licences.

7) A full report regarding the future of the animals to be housed at the park will be submitted to council for consideration.

Municipality releases statement

A statement was released by the municipality following the council meeting on its tabled report. The municipality added that "there has been wide speculation pertaining the work currently being undertaken in the park and the municipality hereby confirms that it is only necessary maintenance and upgrading and that no redevelopment is envisaged".

Read the full statement below

Costs incurred by GRSPCA

ACDP councillor Jeanette Gouws also released a statement following the report, and asked in her statement that the municipality cover the extensive costs incurred by the GRSPCA "for the urgent action taken by it to address the dire state of the animals housed" in the park.

She noted in the statement that the absence of updated permits suggests poor regulatory oversight and the diseased animals and lack of nutrition and veterinary care "highlight systemic neglect".

Gouws stated that euthanasia of the tortoises was necessary due to their condition, "but represents a failure to provide preventive care or adequate facilities earlier". She added that the decision to retain enclosures "seems contradictory unless significant reforms are implemented. Without guarantees of improved care, this could lead to repeat issues."

Gouws also noted that the report mentioned the municipality "may consider contributing" to costs incurred by the GRSPCA. She therefore asked for an amendment to the resolutions, to state that the municipality would reimburse the GRSPCA.

She said this was refused by the DA after a five-minute caucus. Gouws said the report fell short in proposing decisive, corrective actions and accountability measures.

Read the full statement below