Criminal charges have been laid against three Randburg teenage girls and a boy who allegedly tormented a mouse with a lit cigarette before spraying it with aerosol and setting it on fire.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) laid charges of cruelty to animals under various sections of the Animal Cruelty Act on Thursday, SPCA senior inspector Phillip Roberts said.
The group was caught after a cellphone-video recording of the incident arrived at the SPCA offices in Randburg.
”The National Council of the SPCA was horrified and disgusted to see the torture of an animal recorded on the cellphone of a 15-year-old female,” Roberts said.
”The ‘snuff movie’ also included the sound of juvenile girls shrieking with laughter as the small animal was tormented with a lit cigarette and set alight.”
He said the mouse, bought at a Northgate pet shop, was confined in a cardboard box.
”The recording goes on to show the mouse running around inside the box as it is being sprayed with an aerosol, and then set alight with a pocket cigarette lighter,” Roberts said.
”As the mouse is being burnt, a female voice is heard on the footage saying: ‘I’m filming’.”
He said the mouse was still alive when the recording ended.
”Investigations continue. There is no way that this incident can be excused, condoned or overlooked in any way,” Roberts said.
The SPCA believed it would be failing in its duty to society if it did not lay charges. It also appeared the teenagers had tortured another mouse just before buying the one they filmed.
”The footage of the torture of a defenceless animal — purchased from a pet shop specifically for this purpose — was a knowing, calculated and callous action.
”At any point, any one of them could have stopped what was happening, but the sound effects reveal they egged each other on to further and greater cruelty,” Roberts said.
Investigations will also be conducted into the family backgrounds of those involved in the abuse.
”Liaison is taking place with psychologists and psychiatrists as well as educational authorities.”
Roberts said a court date had not yet been set.
”The docket still has to go to the public prosecutor to put it on the roll and the public prosecutor will then let us know of the date for a court appearance.”
The teenagers face a fine of up to R20 000 or four months’ imprisonment if they are found guilty.
Roberts said the ”horrific” abuse of a defenceless animal is not the first carried out by ”legal minors”.
”In 2005 there were several serious cases of animal abuse by young adults attending schools or places of learning.
”This most recent event encapsulates and demonstrates what the SPCA movement refers to as ‘first strike’ … the scientifically proven theory that those who abuse animals, especially in their youth, are likely to go on to other violent crimes committed against the vulnerable in our communities,” he said. — Sapa