THE conviction and sentence imposed on a Durban man, who dumped two cats on the side of a road, has been welcomed.
Ali Danka was ordered to pay a R1 000 fine or serve a month in prison after he was found guilty of animal cruelty in the Durban Magistrate's Court this week.
Tanya Fleischer, the marketing manager at Durban and Coast SPCA, said while he initially denied his involvement, the entire incident was captured by a nearby security camera.
She said Danka was seen pulling up next to the curb in Morningside in May 2024, before throwing the cats out of a basket into the gutter and driving off.
“Fortunately, the terrified animals ran away from the busy road and into a store, where they were saved and brought to our SPCA. After a thorough veterinary check, they were found to be in good health and were successfully rehomed not long afterwards.
“We welcome the sentence and the fact that it sends a clear message that animals matter. They can’t just be thrown away like unwanted garbage. They are sentient beings who feel fear, pain and sadness,” she said.
Candice Sadayan, the inspectorate manager at Durban and Coast SPCA, added: “Although the sentence is lenient, we are pleased that he now has a criminal record. We pursued the case because treating animals in this manner is unacceptable. Furthermore, this happened less than 8km away from our offices where the cats could have been handed over responsibly.
“We would also like to thank our wonderful circle of supporters for helping us stand up for the rights of voiceless animals,” she said.