Cape Town - Four puppies rescued from a Chinese fishing vessel docked in Cape Town for alleged illegal fishing are being put up for adoption.
The dogs were found on board the Lu Huang Yuan Yu 186, part of a nine-vessel foreign fleet being delivered to Congo from China after being purchased by an Angolan fishing company.
The Lu Huang Yuan Yu 186 was captured on May 20 and three more vessels were captured on May 22, after a joint operation by the department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the South African Navy.
About 96 crew members face possible charges of not being in possession of correct permits, not complying with the lawful instruction of a fishery control officer and infringements in terms of international conservation and management measures inside or outside South African waters.
The vessels reportedly did not indicate their right of innocent passage through South Africa’s economic exclusion zone, nor apply for a permit to enter local waters.
During an inspection of the vessel the puppies were discovered. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA appealed to the state veterinarian and succeeded in having the dogs impounded and removed.
SPCA spokeswoman Belinda Abraham said they received a tip-off from an anonymous source about the plight of the puppies.
After an investigation on the ship, officials found the animals were living in confined and filthy conditions.
“The dogs are in state quarantine at the moment. They are doing a couple of tests on them before we can step in,” Abraham said.
She said the dogs “appear to be in good physical health and spirits and are enjoying the affection they are receiving from staff”.
The SPCA is seeking homes for the dogs. Anyone interested in adopting them may contact Kim August on 021 700 4141 or email [email protected]
Weekend Argus