Tortoise abuser sentenced

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) investigated a case of deliberate cruelty to a tortoise by Letiya Mercy Lebakeng who was sentenced in the Palm Ridge Magistrate Court on 5 November 2018. Lebakeng was accused of deliberately and forcefully throwing the tortoise against a rock in the road as it had apparently wondered into her

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7 Ways to enrich your dog’s life

Yes, dogs can become bored, and that is usually when behaviour problems can occur. Just like children, dogs need environmental enrichment to stimulate their minds and occupy their time. Although this might sound complicated, it actually just means that you need to spend time with your dog and do activities to stimulate him. The various

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Investigating fat metabolism disorders in South African Mini Schnauzers

by Dr Anthony Zambelli, Sr Jodi Venter, Dr Kenneth Joubert Mini Schnauzers are the seventh most common breed in South Africa according to the Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA) registration for the last few years. This popular, spirited and alert little breed is generally quite robust, but we do know from overseas studies that

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Tracking poachers in the Kruger National Park

Ten kilometres west of the Kruger National Park is the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), offering conservation education, training and skills development programmes. To help conserve biological diversity and protect threatened species in the greater Kruger National Park, one of their programmes includes training dogs in the battle against wildlife crimes. This is how they

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Q& A: Scared puppy

Q: How can I determine what scares my 13-week-old puppy when I walk towards him? I’ve never hurt him in any way or even scolded him. A: It’s unusual for a 13-week-old puppy to be showing fear when approached, especially if there appears to be no apparent reason. Without having more information, such as if

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5 Reasons to own a dog

Are you contemplating whether you should bring a new doggy into your life, or do you need to convince someone that you need a dog? Here are some valid reasons why owning a dog will bring you lots of happiness. But do keep in mind that dogs are not toys that you can play with

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Q & A: Barking at visitors

Q: My dog will not stop barking at visitors. I’ve tried giving her treats, taking her to another room, and even outside. What should we do? A: This can be a frustrating problem for both you and your visitors, especially if everything you have tried is not working. Dogs might bark at visitors because they

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