Kloof’s beloved veterinarian dies

MANY people who stroll under the jacaranda trees, enjoy the open area, the tea gardens, and fund raising events held at the Kloof and Highway SPCA are unaware of the titanic effort and driving force of so many people, whose combined efforts have put the Kloof and Highway SPCA on the map, and positioned it as one the leading animal welfare organisations that it is today.

One figure, who stands out proudly among the many is Dr Angus Llewellyn Pringle, who sadly died on 19 July 2014.

Dr Angus Pringle took over the chairmanship of the then Kloof branch of the Durban and Coast SPCA at a turbulent time in 1984, when the Kloof SPCA was merely a branch of the Durban and Coast SPCA at the time. The Kloof branch was effectively insolvent, and was barely active. The property known as Glenholme, where the SPCA is today, had been bequeathed for the use of an SPCA by the late Luther ‘Skit’ Field to form “a sanctuary for birds and the use of the SPCA in perpetuity.”

The true value of the establishment of the horse care unit was bringing public attention to the tragedy of many ex race horses in their declining years. The horse care unit, under Angus’s leadership managed to persuade the racing industry to actively support equine welfare.

One happy story arising from this initiative was that of a once grand horse named North Island. Once his racing career had ended, his ownership changed hands several times. Fortunately for North Island he was rescued, in a neglected state, by the Kloof SPCA horse care unit. Under their care, his health was lovingly restored and North Island’s crowning glory was the day he returned to Greyville racecourse when he proudly led the July parade, to a standing public ovation from all racing fans.

Angus persuaded many of his colleagues to participate in a Community Veterinary Clinic whereby they gave up their time, on a roster basis, to provide health care and sterilisation procedures to the hundreds of dogs and cats living in the surrounding disadvantaged areas. Today, the Kloof and Highway SPCA is able to employ a full time veterinarian.

Another notable project of the Kloof and Highway SPCA, under the chairmanship of Angus Pringle, was the establishment of primary healthcare clinics in the tribal areas surrounding the Hluhluwe-Mfolosi Park. These clinics were conducted with the approval and support of the traditional leaders, or amaKhosi, in order to demonstrate more scientific methods of animal husbandry and disease management and improve food security in the area. Another hoped for outcome was the limitation of the impact of domestic animal diseases on the wild animals in the park.

The impression this made upon the leaders and community is evidenced by the fact that a special tribute was written by some of the amaKhosi involved, to be read out at his memorial service on behalf of that community. It was accompanied by a special request that the congregation be asked to stand while it was being read, as a mark of appropriate respect.

Angus Pringle spent untold hours of his time to maintain and enforce the welfare principles of the SPCA. As such, he gave considerable time to organising in house training of staff in the handling of welfare procedures, especially from the veterinary point of view.

The wild life society, with the concurrence of the trustees and the Field estate, and Angus Pringle representing the SPCA, become involved in the restoration and maintenance of the area of the property (Glenholme) now known as the Kloof nature reserve. In 1985 the Highway branch of the society set up a management plan led by Jean Senogles, Judy Robinson together with notable names as Anne Todd, and Professor Roddy Ward from the botany Zoology and Biological science departments of Durban University.

Dr Angus Pringle was occasionally controversial in his approach; however the many who worked beside him and for him respected his commitment for animal welfare and will always fondly remember Angus for the man he really was.

For his contributions in welfare and in particular the Amalusi Project, Angus received the SOGA MEDAL in 2005 (being the first recipient of the SAVA Soga Medal).

Angus was a lifelong philatelist and chairman of the Highway Philatelic Society for many years – who later awarded him honorary life membership.

On Saturday 19 July, following Angus’s long battle (more than six years) with colonic cancer, the great servant of the veterinary profession died. He leaves his wife, Hettie, three loving children and four grandchildren who will miss a special man who dedicated himself in the latter years to enjoying life with his treasured family.