SPCA Nelspruit urgently in need of pet food

The SPCA Nelspruit is in dire need of animal food after it admitted nearly 400 animals since the beginning of 2024.

The chairperson, Lize Pienaar, said the number of new animals adopted in January is already at 395, and this can increase at any time.

“Our food is almost depleted, and we need help from the public, especially donations of animal food. We will really appreciate assistance with dry dog food for adult dogs, puppies, adult cats and kittens. We will also be grateful for wet/soft food, as we have young puppies and kittens in our care. We cannot do this without the support of our community. Each and every donation is appreciated, no matter how small,” she said.

All donations may be delivered to the SPCA Nelspruit at 6 Meidlinger Street, or call the centre on 013 753 3582.

ALSO READ: Another qualified inspector joins Nelspruit SPCA’s ranks

Pienaar also clarified the procedures after a pet has ended up at the SPCA. The animal must be claimed within the pound period of five days during office hours from 10:00 to 16:00 on weekdays and on a Saturday from 09:00 to 12:00.

After this, it becomes the legal property of the SPCA, and the former owners will have to apply to adopt it, which includes the full adoption process.

“Some of the reasons we do not do owner claims after hours is because the inspector or field officer on after-hour duty for emergency response is to immediately and first assist a suffering animal. A claim can be a lengthy process, which means that our on-duty staff member will have to leave a suffering animal in order to complete the claim process. To allow an animal to suffer is a contravention of the law we have to enforce.

“The procedure of re-adoption includes that the animal must be microchipped and that the chip must be registered before the animal can go home. The member on duty is not necessarily able to do this; it is only the veterinarian and the animal welfare assistants, who are not always available,” Pienaar explained.

ALSO READ: Three male lions safely returned to Kruger Park

She also said they have been accused of being lazy, but the fact that the animals end up at the SPCA is not their fault, though not necessarily the owner’s fault, either, but there are national SPCA rules to follow. She said just like any other company, the SPCA has rules and processes for valid reasons, but sometimes people feel entitled to treat the staff badly.

All the personnel ask for is that people take proper care of their pets, and if they should end up in the kennels, that they just have a little respect for the staff and legal procedures.