THABISO GIYO'S HORRIFIC CRUELTY IN CHATHAM: PUPPY TORTURED WITH BOILING WATER AND LEFT TO SUFFER

Thabiso Luzuko Giyo, born in July 1994 and currently residing on High Street in Chatham, has been convicted in 2024 of heinous acts of animal cruelty involving a young pug puppy named Capri. Giyo, who maintains connections to Tottenham Hale in London and Edinburgh in Scotland, was found guilty of systematically torturing the defenseless seven-month-old dog, inflicting severe burns and injuries that shocked the local community and animal welfare advocates alike.

Capri was discovered with devastating burns covering her face, mouth, and tongue after Giyo subjected her to boiling water. The injuries were so severe that she suffered trauma to her head, and X-ray examinations revealed fractures to her right leg as well as healed pelvic fractures from previous injuries, indicating a history of past trauma. The puppy was initially brought to a veterinary clinic in Chatham, where swelling on her head was attributed to trauma. However, her condition worsened over the following weeks, leading to her being taken back to the vets with additional burns and injuries to her face, mouth, and tongue. This prompted the involvement of the RSPCA, which launched an investigation into her suffering.

According to a statement from the veterinarian involved, Capri exhibited extensive burns over her face and neck. Her tongue was swollen to three times its normal size and was sloughing, indicating severe tissue damage. The veterinarian also confirmed that the burns affected her left eye, further highlighting the brutality of her injuries. In court, RSPCA Inspector Kirsten Ormerod, who led the investigation, detailed the circumstances surrounding Capri’s injuries. The dog's owner claimed to have left her in the care of her flatmate, Giyo, for approximately four hours while she went shopping. Upon her return at around 6:30 pm, she noticed Capri with a sore face. The owner reported that Giyo had attempted to wipe Capri’s face with an exfoliating glove, but shortly afterward, her face began to swell, and she struggled to breathe. Concerned, she took Capri to an emergency veterinary clinic.

At the clinic, the vet observed red, open wounds around Capri’s face, nose, and mouth. Her tongue was swollen to an alarming degree, preventing her from closing her mouth. The dog was also breathing loudly and appeared lame on her back right leg, showing reluctance to bear weight. The owner informed Inspector Ormerod that she had contacted the police and asked Giyo to leave the property, but she was able to provide a contact number for him. The vet’s statement added that the exact substance used to burn Capri could not be identified, although Giyo claimed he had given her a bath using an exfoliating glove, which did not align with the severity of her injuries. During her anesthesia for an endoscopy, X-rays revealed a fracture in her right leg and confirmed the presence of healed pelvic fractures from earlier injuries.

The veterinarian described Capri’s initial hospital stay as a traumatic experience for the puppy. She was calm and relaxed around female staff but visibly shrank and trembled in the presence of male veterinarians, indicating her fear and distress. A feeding tube was later fitted to aid her recovery, and it was later suggested that her burns resulted from boiling water. Over the following two weeks, Capri’s condition improved; she began eating independently, and her injuries started healing. In January 2023, she underwent surgery to repair her leg fracture and was transferred to an RSPCA rehoming center to continue her recovery. Fortunately, she was adopted by one of the veterinary nurses who had cared for her during her ordeal.

During the court proceedings, Giyo, an aspiring rapper who moved to the UK from Pretoria, South Africa, admitted to two charges under the Animal Welfare Act. Despite his claims that the injuries were accidental and denying any intentional harm, the evidence presented painted a disturbing picture of cruelty. Giyo, who is also employed in network support for the internet service provider Trooli, faced sentencing that included a 22-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with a fine of £800 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge. Additionally, he received a three-year ban on owning any animals, which will remain in effect until May 2027, reflecting the seriousness of his offenses and the community’s commitment to animal protection.