Two essential local institutions either closed or announced their imminent closure.
Both these community services deserve a huge hue and cry to be made because of their demise in our once bustling town.
One is Hospice and the other is the SPCA. Both should have remained integral in our community as they offered specialist help for young and old, rich and poor. How sad it is that these organisations are disappearing from the scene and there is barely a whimper.
I am sure many people have been ever grateful that their loved ones were able to die with dignity because our local hospice staff were there to help. I am sure that many of the bereaved that have had the support of this selfless organisation would testify that the whole sad process was made easier, somehow, as the experts were at hand.
The other institution is the SPCA. Somehow I cannot imagine our town being without this organisation. It will be a sad day to see the doors close for the last time.
Yes, we have sometimes been annoyed by their apparent unwillingness to jump when we asked them too as emotions play a huge role when it comes to animals that are possibly hurt, abandoned, neglected or abused. But still. They were there. If your dog got lost you could go just down the road to look. If there were strays in the streets you could bring them there or ask the SPCA to come and fetch them. They might not have been there in a jiffy but they would come.
Now things will change. The area that the SPCA dealing with Krugersdorp as well their own Joburg beat, will be huge. The impact of their absence will be felt.
Many years ago I was chairman of our local SPCA. I was doing other (wild) animal work but was asked to come on board as there was a crisis. I said I would help out for a year which I did. During that time I saw many things. A lot of it sad. There were people who would go on leave and then drop their pets off at the SPCA claiming they were strays as they didn’t want to pay for boarding. There were others whose pets didn’t look cute anymore as they were now grown up.
There was a couple who wanted their old dog put to sleep and left him there. Before they left they walked through the kennels and decided to bring their other, healthy dog to be put down as well so that they could get two new ones. What do you think will happen to pets such as these if there is no “dumping” place? Will they land up in the veld somewhere? Will they just be left at home with, if they’re lucky, an open bag of dog chunks and a bucket of water?
Krugersdorpers need to rally and see that some other group takes over these premises. We owe it to our animals!
