Week in Review: 12-18 May 2025

Over the past month, our Inspectors and support team have faced a grim and relentless crisis: hundreds of thousands of broiler and breeder chickens across several Daybreak farms have gone without consistent feed for days at a time. Chickens begin to weaken after just 24 hours without food, and what we witnessed was nothing short of catastrophic.

Our team was forced to humanely end the suffering of thousands of starving, emaciated birds. It has been an emotionally and physically traumatic few weeks for all involved, and the case is still ongoing. Some of our Inspectors have described it as the worst cruelty and neglect they’ve encountered in their careers with the NSPCA.

It’s been tough.

However, we’ve had some good news this week, too. Remember the “shelter” in Middelburg, EC, where animals were living in horrendous conditions? Bloemfontein SPCA has worked tirelessly to help the animals from the shelter to recover, and some of them are now up for adoption!

We also share insights from our recently released 2024 Annual Report.

We were first alerted to problems at various Daybreak farms in February 2025, when a complaint came in that chickens were so hungry, they had begun cannibalising each other.

When we arrived, we were met with a horrific scene: birds with severe wounds, no food in sight, and unimaginable suffering. Our team immediately intervened, euthanising more than 4,000 birds that were too far gone to be saved.

Daybreak workers warned us that this would be an ongoing issue. Tragically, they were right.

Just two months later, we were once again called out to humanely euthanise more than 5,500 chickens. It became clear that Daybreak Foods was in deep financial crisis. With no funds to feed their animals, the birds were being left to starve.

And so began one of the largest cruelty investigations the NSPCA has ever undertaken.

Over six days, our Inspectors witnessed the deaths of over 25,000 birds at just two sites. It only worsened from there. The entire NSPCA Inspectorate, alongside Inspectors from 18 SPCAs nationwide, was deployed for a mass operation.

In one week alone, over 350,000 birds had to be humanely euthanised due to extreme starvation and injury.

Even our most seasoned Inspectors were shaken. Many described it as one of the most emotionally taxing operations in NSPCA history.

We refuse to turn a blind eye to the ongoing neglect and cruelty these animals have endured at the hands of those meant to care for them. On 8 May 2025, we secured warrants to inspect two Daybreak breeder farms in Limpopo after a whistleblower reported insufficient feed and inhumane culling practices.

On 9 May 2025, we found numerous birds suffering from severe injuries and starvation. Many had to be euthanised. The following day, our team returned, only to discover more empty feeders, more starving birds, and growing hostility from Daybreak’s management and legal team.

That same day, we filed for an urgent interim court order, which was granted on 10 May 2025. The order compelled Daybreak to cease all inhumane culling and provide adequate, appropriate feed for all breeder birds.

At that point, nearly 600,000 chickens were at immediate risk. Many were already wounded from cannibalism, prolonged starvation, and poor handling by Daybreak staff.

On 11 May 2025, Inspectors returned to find insufficient feed once again, and were forced to euthanise 2,000 more compromised birds. The next day, 12 May, our team encountered locked chicken houses and further obstruction from Daybreak staff, who left the site midday, abandoning their duties.

It has been a deeply challenging time for our organisation. Our staff have suffered, physically, emotionally, and psychologically. The financial toll has been immense, placing our resources under enormous strain.

But we will not give up. We will not allow this suffering to continue.

On 13 May 2025, we returned to court. Judgment was reserved, but the order has since been extended pending a further ruling.

Your Voice on Social Media:

• “Well done NSPCA for your dedication and for doing what needs to be done for the animals. Hats off to every member who gives their time, energy, and heart to this vital cause. Your compassion makes a difference.” – Facebook/Belinda Botha
• “Absolutely shocking, thank you for assisting and please make sure the “people / person” that did this suffers just as much.” – Facebook/Margie Wisner Hopewell
• “So so so sad 💔💔💔.” – TikTok/@Ok

An emaciated rooster is comforted before his suffering is humanely ended.

Every year, countless animals like pangolins, tortoises, and parrots are stolen from the wild and sold into the illegal wildlife trade, as part of a global crisis driving species toward extinction. This Endangered Species Day, take a stand to protect South Africa’s natural heritage by reporting wildlife crimes, supporting ethical tourism, and rejecting the trade in wild animals. Every action counts. Safeguarding our wildlife starts with you.

After a complaint received in July 2024, our Inspectors visited an illegal shelter in the Eastern Cape and were shocked by the appalling conditions in which they found the dogs and cats in the owner’s “care”.

On 09 April 2025, the owner, Carol-Ann Ratcliff,  was convicted on three counts of animal cruelty.

The compromised animals were removed from the property and taken to Bloemfontein SPCA, were they were given the love, care, and compassion they had been denied for so long.

We’re happy to report that the rescued animals have recovered well and are now available for adoption from the Bloemfontein SPCA. If you would like to offer a loving home to anyone of the dogs, please contact Bloemfontein SPCA at 051 447 3801.

We love stories like these, which give us strength to deal with the tough stuff.

Don’t forget to have a look at our 2024 Annual Report. All the figures, all the stories, all the rescues…it was a year of impact, action, and proof that the life of every single animal matters.

That’s a wrap for this week’s Week in Review! If these stories resonated with you, check out the full articles and join the conversation on our social media pages.

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Your support helps us continue making a difference for animals – whether by sharing our updates, raising awareness, or donating to our cause. See you next Sunday for another Week in Review!