A Bloemfontein man who allegedly relocated over the festive season left 14 dogs behind to fend for themselves, the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said on Tuesday.
SPCA spokesperson in Bloemfontein Reinette Meyer said they found the dogs at a house in Pellisier after the owner allegedly moved to Durban.
Neighbours phoned the SPCA after seeing that the house was empty and the dogs were without food and water.
Meyer said the man will be facing charges of cruelty to animals if the SPCA can get hold of him.
In a similar incident, two dogs were left behind in Fauna after the owner allegedly also relocated to a new city.
Meyer said the 2004 festive season in Bloemfontein has been extremely hard on animals.
”The fireworks and the thunderstorms led to many stray dogs,” Meyer said. ”Over the Christmas weekend we took in 35 Stafford terriers.”
Meyer said by Tuesday some dog owners had already collected their pets.
”We still have more than 100 stray dogs and cats that we took in over the festive season which owners still need to collect.”
Meyer said their holding pens are filled to capacity. — Sapa