Midrand SPCA shares year-end message
GLEN AUSTIN – The Midrand SPCA looks back at 2020.
The Midrand SPCA would like to share its year-end message with the local community.
General manager of the organisation Pam Pretorius said, “This year certainly took a turn which we never envisioned as our country faced a pandemic which not only claimed lives but several livelihoods and brought our economy to a standstill. For our society, which relies solely on public funding to remain operational, this added additional stress on what was already a stressful situation at times.
“The saying goes, ‘charity begins at home’, and many of our supporters have sadly lost their income during this year, which inevitably meant that they could no longer support our cause either.”
Despite the difficulties encountered, the Midrand SPCA staff have soldiered on and never lost sight of their mandate. “We have seen first-hand how this virus has affected owners and their beloved pets as our intake of surrendered animals increased. We have witnessed the heartache and devastation as people had to make a decision that they never ever wanted to make but where they had depleted all other alternative options available to them.”
Pretorius said that though the year has been tough, there has been some good news including the organisation taking a big step in opening their own clinic, giving veterinary care to animals whose owners can not afford private care. “Currently our clinic only operates for one hour per day during the week but we will increase these hours as demand requires it.”
Additionally, the organisation has seen a rise in adoption rates throughout the Covid-19 period. “Although it has been challenging and at times we did not know if we would survive, our society managed to see 2020 through. None of this would have been possible though, without you, the members of public who, despite facing your own challenges, continued to step up and help us help animals in need. To everyone who donated a bag of food, materials needed, monetary donations, donations of any other kind or simply popped in to see how we were doing, we thank you for your undying support.”
She concluded, “We wish all our supporters a blessed festive season and we hope that you will get to spend this special time of the year with your friends and family. To those who may be travelling, we wish you safe travels.”
Details: Midrand SPCA 011 265 9935.
