The Carletonville SPCA, which will be holding its AGM at 17:30 on Monday, 10 July, has helped an unusual variety
of animals this week.
On Monday, residents of Dahlia Street found an unusual furry animal in their yard and called in the inspectors.
Although the animal was first thought to be a small monkey of sorts, it was later identified as a genet  (muskeljaatkat).
Representatives of the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital in Midrand picked up the very weak male of about three weeks old later in the day.
Dr Karin Lourens of this facility says genets are quite common in urban areas and these beneficial little creatures
often live in trees in people’s yards without them even knowing it. Genets are excellent rodent catchers and also
eat birds. They are not known to be carriers of rabies. If young genets are found in a garden and their parents are
nearby, it is often possible to just place them back in a tree.
It is illegal to keep a genet without a permit as it is an indigenous animal with a very specific diet. It is, therefore,
extremely difficult to provide the necessary nutrition in a captive environment.
In the meantime, the SPCA personnel also had to had to assist at an accident in which a truck, carrying about
30 sheep and goats overturned at Brandvlei near Randfontein last week.
Many of the animals had to be euthanised.
They also had to euthanise a seriously injured pregnant cow after the animal was hit by a vehicle on the road to Fochville.
Unfortunately, the calf could not be saved, either.
Anyone who cares for animals is invited to the AGM at the SPCA kennels in Beerster Street. For more information,
contact the SPCA at 018 788 6262 or visit the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital website at www.johannesburgwildlifevet.com.