K9 Patrol Pet Army founder and co-accused arrested

Two arrests have been made following a raid that uncovered appalling scenes of animal cruelty at a Retreat property posing as a non-profit animal shelter. 

Jamie Pieterse, of Kirstenhof, the founder of the K9 Patrol Pet Army, and his co-accused Marizelle Swanepoel, were arrested last Friday, May 2. 

They both face a range of serious charges, including multiple counts under the Animals Protection Act, violations of the City of Cape Town by-laws as well as contravention of environmental legislation by unlawfully keeping invasive alien species.

The suspects appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court, following a weekend spent in police holding cells, on Monday May 5. The matter was postponed until Thursday May 8, for a formal application of bail hearing. 

The SPCA has confirmed it will be opposing bail.

A multidisciplinary team comprising SPCA inspectors, Kirstenhof SAPS, and Cape Town traffic officers conducted the raid on Friday May 2, after securing a warrant from the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court, uncovering harrowing conditions inside the property.

“What began as a routine complaint turned into one of the most disturbing cruelty cases uncovered by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA in recent years,” says SPCA Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse. 

“Outside, five adult dogs were found tethered to short chains or ropes, without access to clean drinking water. Puppies were confined to a small pen. A dog tied to a tap. A dog was found tethered inside a pen, its space so restricted that it could barely move.

“Inside the house, the stench was overpowering. In the kitchen, a pitbull stood alone in filth. In the bathroom, three dogs were crammed in with piles of faeces, urine, and decaying rubbish — without a drop of water. 

“Another three dogs were discovered locked in a separate room. Behind a urine-soaked couch, one cat and three more sick puppies were uncovered in equally horrible conditions, surrounded by faeces, urine, vomit, putrid water, and rotting food.”

Inspectors also found plastic tubs of discoloured black-green water filled with koi and Nile Tilapia fish, a listed invasive species under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, that were being kept without a valid permit.

A total of 13 dogs, eight puppies, one cat, and three tubs of fish were rescued from “this house of horrors”.

Mr Pieterse attempted to evade the law and was later arrested in Scarborough by the City of Cape Town Traffic Services. Narcotics were also found in his possession at the time of his arrest, says Mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith.

In March, the SPCA laid charges of animal cruelty against Mr Pieterse after he attempted to treat a dog’s torn ear by gluing it back together with super glue — without any pain relief, sterilisation, or proper veterinary knowledge (“Illegal Kirstenhof 'vet' charged for supergluing dog's ear”, Bulletin, March 19).

Mr Pieterse is not registered with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) to perform any veterinary procedures.

Western Cape NPO Helpdesk, which helps with NPO registration, said Pet Army and Mr Pieterse do not appear on the National Department of Social Development NPO database.

Inspector Jeffrey Mfini intervened in that case, removing the dog and placing him under SPCA care. Pablo required nearly a month of treatment to heal from the trauma and injury but has made a full recovery.