Sky was a South African Police Service K9. She served an institution that had a duty to protect her, care for her and safeguard her welfare.

In September 2026, Sky suffered catastrophic injuries while being housed at the SAPS Veterinary Hospital at Roodeplaat. Despite efforts to save her, her condition deteriorated and she was ultimately euthanised.

But Sky’s story did not begin on the night she was injured.

Information subsequently made public indicates that SAPS veterinary records had already documented serious concerns about Sky’s welfare, including severe kennel stress, separation anxiety, repeated attempts to escape confinement and injuries associated with those attempts.

A veterinary certificate dated 28 August 2026 reportedly warned that remaining within the SAPS environment would compromise her welfare.

Ten days later, Sky suffered the injuries that ultimately cost her life.

We need to know what happened during those ten days.

We need to know who knew that Sky was struggling.

We need to know what recommendations were made.

We need to know whether opportunities existed to remove her from that environment.

We need to know whether concerns were escalated — and, if they were not, why not.

Most importantly, we need to know whether Sky’s death could have been prevented.

SAPS has announced an internal investigation. That is necessary, but it cannot be the end of the matter.

When serious questions concern the actions, decisions and systems of an organisation itself, public confidence requires meaningful independent scrutiny and transparency.

What we are asking for

We call upon the Minister of Police, the Acting National Commissioner of SAPS, Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police and the relevant independent animal-welfare and veterinary authorities to ensure:

A full, independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances leading to Sky’s injuries and death, including her accommodation, supervision, veterinary care, welfare management and proposed retirement or rehoming.

Preservation and examination of all relevant evidence, including veterinary records, CCTV footage, kennel and inspection registers, duty rosters, incident reports, internal correspondence and communications, documentation relating to her proposed placement, and the complete post-mortem findings.

A complete timeline of decisions concerning Sky, establishing when concerns about her welfare became known, who knew about them, what recommendations were made, what authority existed to intervene, what action was taken and why any recommended action may not have occurred.

Independent scrutiny of the SAPS Veterinary Hospital at Roodeplaat, including its kennel facilities, staffing, supervision, monitoring procedures, after-hours arrangements and protocols for animals suffering severe kennel stress or displaying self-injurious behaviour.

Public disclosure of the substantive findings once investigations have concluded, subject to legitimate restrictions required by law or an active criminal investigation.

Meaningful accountability where wrongdoing is established. If evidence demonstrates negligence, misconduct, breaches of professional obligations or contraventions of animal-protection legislation, appropriate disciplinary, professional and/or criminal proceedings must follow.

Finally, we call for an independent national review of the welfare of SAPS service animals.

That review should examine kennel standards, exercise and enrichment, veterinary oversight, after-hours monitoring, management of severe kennel stress, mechanisms for escalating urgent welfare concerns, and the processes governing the retirement, donation and rehoming of SAPS animals.

There must be a mechanism for removing an animal urgently from an environment identified as detrimental to its welfare while administrative processes are still being completed.

This is not a campaign against SAPS K9 handlers.

There are dedicated SAPS handlers throughout South Africa who love their dogs, work beside them and regard them as partners.

This petition is about ensuring that those handlers — and their dogs — are supported by systems worthy of the animals they serve.

Service dogs do not choose this life.

They search for missing people. They detect explosives, narcotics, firearms and evidence. They track suspects. They enter dangerous environments. They work beside human beings and serve communities across South Africa.

They ask remarkably little from us in return.

Food. Shelter. Veterinary care. Human companionship. Protection.

And dignity when their working lives are over.

Sky could not ask for an investigation.

She could not lodge a complaint.

She could not ask for a decision to be escalated.

She could not ask why an administrative process was taking so long.

She could only communicate her distress in the ways available to her.

Now we can speak for her.

We are not asking the public to decide who is guilty.

We are asking for the evidence to decide.

We are asking for transparency.

We are asking for accountability.

We are asking for change.

And we are asking that what happened to Sky never happens to another service animal entrusted to the care of the State.

Please sign this petition and share it.

Not because signing can bring Sky back.

But because her death must mean something.

Sky served South Africa.

South Africa now owes Sky the truth.

#JusticeForSky