Workers at a Knysna abattoir have been captured on film allegedly mistreating sheep by using an electric prod to force them to leap down from a truck on arrival at the slaughterhouse, resulting in the death of one animal on the tarmac. Members of the Knysna Animal Welfare Society (KAWS) captured the alleged abuse on film last Tuesday after receiving a tip-off from a member of the public, and have charged the Knysna Abattoir and Butchery with unlawful methods of transporting and offloading livestock. This is the second occasion the abattoir has been warned by KAWS about its handling and transportation practices. However abattoir owner Frik van Heerden insists that the incident is nothing more than a misunderstanding, as the ramp used to offload the sheep had become damaged at the upper level a week prior to KAWSs investigation. Furthermore, he said the sheep died because of the heat while in transit, and not as a result of the 1.2 metre fall from the truck. In a letter dated November 1, KAWS chairman Marten van Leeuwen informed the abattoir owners that the organisations investigation had revealed that animals from the top deck of the truck were being cruelly pushed onto the concrete floor 1.2 metres below. He added electric prods were being indiscriminately and profusely used to chase the sheep from the truck, and that there was a dead sheep on the truck. Another dying sheep was pulled from the top deck of the truck, and fell to the tarmac where it later died. Van Leeuwen also wrote that the floor of the truck was covered in excrement. The abattoir had until Friday to install a legally-compliant offloading ramp. KAWS spokeswoman Elaine Levitte said KAWS reserved the right to pursue criminal charges in terms of the Animals Protection if the situation has not been adequately rectified within the specified time period. She added this was not the first time the abattoir had drawn the organisations attention. KAWS did issue the abattoir in question with a warning in September 2009 advising it to strictly comply with the Animals Protection Act and the accepted code of practice for the handling and transport of livestock. The abattoir subsequently complied. Van Heerden said the situation was a misunderstanding. The sheep died because the heat, this does happen sometimes when they are being transported. Our business is in a public street, so it doesnt make any sense that we would be mistreating sheep. This situation is sorted out, he said.
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 07:08:59 +0000
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