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Spokesperson Wanika Davids told News24 the officer was dispatched on Wednesday after a dog owner contacted the organisation to collect a sick dog.
“The officer spoke to the owner’s son as the owner was not home and was shown the sick dog. It could barely walk or stand,” she said.
“He then phoned the dog owner and explained humane euthanasia would be best, and the owner gave consent. But when our staff member re-entered the property, three men had joined the son who questioned our collector’s authority and decision.”
The men then threw stones at the officer while making derogatory remarks questioning whether he was educated and qualified to be a vet, Davids said.
“He was hit on the arm, but still manged to remove the dog and get to the vehicle. The men continued to throw stones, smashing the driver’s window and mirror.”
Davids said while in some cases two officers were sent on a call out, the SPCA has insufficient staff to always do this.
“These incidents are extremely concerning. We need communities to step up and help keep our staff safe. We are here to help,” she said.
In a separate incident later that night, opportunistic thieves stole a GPS, torch, map book and camera from a vehicle while a collections officer was collecting a dog in Mitchells Plain.
“It may sound like minor things, but to an NGO like us this is a big deal,” Davids said.
