Benoni SPCA euthanases over 400 animals a month, but you can help
The Benoni SPCA has, for the past six months, received an average of 525 animals each month at its pound, with an average of 424 of those being euthanased every month.
A monthly average of 46 of the 525 are adopted, while an average of 31 animals are claimed by their owners.
Speaking to the City Times last Friday, co-chairpersons of the Benoni SPCA, Shelley Owens and Diane Wooldridge, said many people are forced to surrender their animals at the SPCA, citing the cost of having pets.
“People just can’t cope anymore, so the first thing that goes out the door are the animals,” said Wooldridge.
Owens said there are also many cases of people surrendering their pets before they depart for holiday, only to re-adopt them upon their return.
In addition to these surrenders, Wooldridge said the SPCA is also the end-point for animals from breeders and people who failed to sterilise their animals.
She said if pet owners sterilised their animals and backyard breeders ceased to exist, they would have fewer animals coming into their pound.
Wooldridge said the monthly euthanasia average is shocking, but said the society can only accommodate a limited amount of animals in the 120 dog and 40 cat kennels.
“I am sure the public will be shocked, as there are so many no-kill shelters and people do not like the idea of euthanasia, but if they have a better idea they must come forward,” Wooldridge said.
SPCA needs funding
It costs about R200 000 a month to run the Benoni SPCA.
Although the society could not reveal its latest financial standing as the figures have not yet been audited, the City Times reported on the local society’s plight in July last year.
READ: SPCA deficit a ‘huge concern’
The following was revealed in the financial report, for the financial year, which ended on March 31, 2016:
It was revealed at its July 13 annual general meeting:
• The net deficit was R778 038 (the deficit in 2015 was R300 069)
• Donations dropped from R586 506 in 2015 to R294 153 in 2016
• Fund-raising rose from R12 994 in 2015 to R64 751 in 2016
• There was no funding from the Lotto in 2016. The funding from the Lotto stood at R152 000 in 2015
• The bank account as of March 31, 2016, had a balance of R2 144 190
• The organisation’s vet fees dropped by R58 106 from 2015 to 2016, and feeding declined by R86 317.
Public’s perception
Owens said many people don’t understand the work undertaken by the SPCA.
“People think we run the organisation on donations of dog food and blankets,” she said.
She said there are other expenses such as salaries, training, maintenance (vehicle and property-related), insurance and petrol, to name a few.
“They don’t know how long it takes to make a case, visits and warnings, draw up papers for the magistrate and wait for approval.”
What can you do?
• Sponsor a kennel at the Benoni SPCA for R300 a month
• Donate any sum of money or food
• Help raise funds towards the repair of an SPCA vehicle. They require R25 000 to fix it. They only have two vehicles (excluding the broken one) to police 175 square kilometres
• Support the charity shop. It is open Monday to Friday from 9am until 2pm. Saturday from 9am until noon.
• Volunteer to help at the kennels or in a fund-raising capacity.
To get involved, visit the Benoni SPCA at 3 Klein Street, or email spca@telkom.net, or call 011 894 2814/5.
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