According to a statement released on the Facebook page of the Phalaborwa SPCA, the local animal shelter has been abandoned, after the entire management committee resigned during the month of March.

“The Phalaborwa SPCA has been plagued by ongoing mismanagement that has left it in a dire financial situation and it is therefore facing closure.

“As a result thereof, it is currently under the management of the NSPCA,” the statement stated.

The NSPCA has verified that R165 300 is owed to SARS and there is an overdraft on the bank account in the amount of R62 380.

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According to NSPCA the local branch can be salvaged if the community decides they need the shelter in their area.

“If the residents agree that they need the institution, then people from the community will need to come forward as co-opted committee members in order to effectively and efficiently manage the Phalaborwa SPCA.

“The SPCA needs to become sustainable and this requires that the community open their pockets to donate and fund the operations of Phalaborwa SPCA, bearing in mind that the running costs of Phalaborwa SPCA is not a once-off amount.

“To make the Phalaborwa SPCA sustainable, donations and financial support is needed urgently,” the statement also added.

They  called for a community meeting on Saturday, with the aim of finding a way forward.

According to their Facebook page, there will give an update on the outcome of the meeting.

For more information on making donations and how residents can get involved, call 015 781 2415.