AGM reveals SPCA predicts tough year ahead
Some of the long serving members of the SPCA were honoured during the AGM.
At the Boksburg SPCA AGM on July 15, chairperson Victor Hall said they struggled to survive during Covid-19.
Yet despite the dire circumstances, the organisation remained focused on preventing animal cruelty.
“The committee has put in a lot of effort to ensure that several fundraising initiatives ran smoothly,” Hall said.
“We generated income through fundraisers such as a golf day and the Christmas Cheer Fund, to help with kennel upgrades.”
Hall said the feral cat sterilisation project started last year and saw 293 feral cats sterilised this past year.
He said Boksburg SPCA’s biggest challenges remain in three areas:
1. To maintain financial improvement and generate income to a breakeven level.
2. They do not receive sustainable support from the community and businesses to ensure a positive trajectory on the operational aspects of the organisation.
3. The SPCA must keep its credibility and reputation in the community.
Hall added the SPCA has 18 staff members.
Seven of the eight committee members elected last year are again available to be re-elected, and one new member joined on the day of the AGM.
“We had three resignations the past year and filled all these positions. Our inspectorate comprises our manager and senior inspector, Vicky Finnemore, inspector Neo Mmoya, inspector Ralph Chivaviro and cadet inspector Tshepo Sithole.
“The team responds and deals with cruelty complaints and offers education, pro-active, pre- and post-home inspections in our jurisdiction. From time to time, they are called upon to assist the NSPCA and other SPCAs in Ekurhuleni,” Hall explained.
He added Boksburg SPCA is fortunate to have an in-house clinic.
“The facility can assist the community with vet care and sterilisations at affordable rates. We do not have a full-time vet, but we have the help of locum vets, Dr Liané van der Westhuizen, Dr Debz Chetty, Dr Nick Temlett and Dr Kelsey Skinner, who assist us.
“We are delighted to see the increase in dog and cat sterilisations because of the clinic.”
He mentioned the Boksburg SPCA outreach programme has grown from strength to strength.
“We run an outreach programme every week on Tuesdays. We have served Windmill Park and Villa Liza the past year, typically spending three months in one area.
“The outreach programme allows us to reach families who cannot access animal clinics. We offer education, deworming, tick and flea control, fly control, and medical care.”
He said their overall income increased by 17% and expenses by 21%.
“We managed operational costs with a tight hand, but donations are declining, especially from the business community, whether monetary donations or through services and goods.
“The SPCA ended on a small surplus due to a legacy received. We expect the 2023/24 financial year to be difficult, with the economic fallout post Covid-19. The impact of load-shedding on businesses is causing hardship across all income groups and businesses.
“We envisage it will be harder to access donor funding to increase the services we offer,” he explained.
He stated in the past financial year, the SPCA continued with kennel upgrades and society maintenance.
“We fitted new kennel fronts on our boarding kennels and completed other smaller projects. Every donation, big or small, monetary, cat or dog food, second-hand items for our charity shop, books for our bookshop or other goods has made a difference.
“We would like to thank some businesses who have continually supported the SPCA. Those businesses are Boksburg Advertiser, Caltex Sunward Park, The Doggy Parlour, Supaquick Sunward Park, Alair Airconditioning, Beezer Group and Netstar.
“We would also like to thank Vicky and the staff who have worked hard to keep the SPCA operational,” Hall concluded.
Operational statistics
The 2022/23 statistics indicate how busy the facility was and why they needed the services to expand:
Cruelty complaints investigated: 585 compared to 552 last year.
Brought in stray dogs: 679 compared to last year’s 649.
Surrendered dogs: 2 524 this year compared to 2 239 last year.
Brought in stray cats: 641 compared to 643 last year.
Surrendered cats: 778 compared to 834 last year.
Total admissions: 4 784 (4 365 last year).
Dogs adopted: 429 (410).
Cats adopted: 98 (92).
Dog owner claimed: 150 (150).
Cat owner claimed: Eight (six).
Dogs sterilised for underprivileged owners: 1 296 (718).
Cats sterilised for underprivileged owners: 832 (552).
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