Xena is a one year old Afrikanis. She was found tied to the railway tracks with a piece of wire, waiting for a train to kill her. Thanks to Karen she was rescued and today she is a very special dog and an excellent watch dog. This is just one of many rescue stories Karen has to share.
Karen, an animal rescuer from Durban, South Africa, has 23 rescued dogs on a residential property. Last Saturday, 4 June 2011 Karen received a notice from Ethekwini Municipality, Durban Metropolitan Police Service: "Notice to remove excessive number of dogs from residential premises. You are given a period of seven (7) days as from today to make the necessary arrangements to have these exsessive dogs removed from the residential premises and placed at a suitable facility appropriately constructed and set aside for purposes of keeping dogs en masse, such as SPCA, or such like facility".
In terms of the Animal Bylaws you are only allowed to keep a maximum of three (3) dogs on a residential premises. Karen's neighbour complained and according to section 5 (1) of the Animal Bylaws of Durban: "The owner of any animal which by barking, yelping, crowing or making other noises distrubs the public peace or which in any way causes a nuisance, commits a breach of these bylaws."
To date some of the dogs have been temporarity fostered by fellow rescuers but there are still dogs in Karen's care that are in danger of being taken to a kill-shelter/s if they cannot be rehomed before the deadline, Saturday, 11 June 2011.
Pawfect Nation (PN) an animal NPO in Durban is going to assist Karen and they need your signature TODAY! PN is applying for an urgent high court appeal and will participate Amicus Curiae in this matter.
Tashya Giyapersad (a layer and executive director of PN) will be lodging this appeal for Karen (on behalf of PN).
A brief explanation of the term: An amicus Curiae is someone that is not a direct party to a case but who volunteers to offer information to assist a court in deciding a matter before it goes to court. The information provided may be a legal opinion in the form of a brief (which is called an amicus brief when offerend by an Amicus Curiae), or testimony that has not been solicited by any of the parties.
The decision on whether to admit the information lies at the discretion of the court.
Karen and her innocent rescued dogs need you NOW. Please sign the petition - it will be handed to a Judge on Wednesday, 8 June 2011. IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Thank you, Jessica Singh, MD of Pawfect Nation and SAARAC
www.pawfectnation.org.za / pawfectnation@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/SA.ARA.Community
