A postmortem report on police dog Sky, a female Belgian Shepherd trained to detect arson accelerants, has revealed the grim circumstances surrounding her final hours. Sky was euthanised on September 9 after suffering catastrophic injuries while confined at the SAPS Veterinary Hospital in Roodeplaat, Pretoria. The report raises fresh questions about how she was left in such a condition, despite serving the South African Police Service for five years.
According to the postmortem report, Sky was found alive but unresponsive and in shock inside a blood-filled cage. The report confirmed several fractures to both front legs, with bone protruding through the skin of her left front leg, constituting an open fracture. The fracture-related wounds were estimated to have been about 12 to 16 hours old. Sky also suffered extensive wounds, bruising, and damage to her skin, muscles, and surrounding tissue.
The report identified severe muscle breakdown that had caused changes to her kidneys and acute changes to her heart muscle. Her injuries were considered likely to have been imminently fatal had she not been euthanised. Multiple penetrating wounds were documented, with one crescent-shaped injury possibly self-inflicted while attempting to free herself. However, the report does not establish this as fact. Other injuries were associated with fractured bone and blunt-force trauma.
Ian Cameron, chairperson of the parliamentary police committee, first raised the alarm in September over the conditions in which Sky was being kept. He opened a criminal case at Paarl police station, which was later transferred to Kameeldrift SAPS in Pretoria. Cameron released Sky's final postmortem report, providing new detail about the injuries suffered by the SAPS service dog and the circumstances surrounding her final hours.
On October 1, Cameron told Daily Maverick that SAPS had assured him that there was now no risk of other animals being exposed to circumstances that could result in a fate similar to Sky's. SAPS made it clear that they would ensure no interference in the case and would conduct a thorough investigation. Cameron underlined that the SAPS had appointed a general to lead the internal investigation, which is expected to be completed by October 9.
Sky's death has prompted an internal SAPS investigation, an independent probe by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), and the intervention of the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) under the Animals Protection Act. Cameron said he had recently met senior SAPS managers and was satisfied that they were taking the matter seriously.
Cameron emphasised that Sky's death must not be in vain, and the SAPS must ensure that she received the protection, proper care, and dignity she deserved. The incident has raised concerns about the care of other SAPS service animals, and Cameron has called for a thorough investigation to establish responsibility for Sky's injuries and death.
Key points
- SAPS police dog Sky's postmortem report reveals catastrophic injuries and extreme pain during her final hours.
- An internal SAPS investigation and independent probe by Ipid have been launched into Sky's death.
- The incident has raised concerns about the care of other SAPS service animals.
