Midrand SPCA faces closure due to financial struggles
The organisation's funding has drastically decreased amid a struggling economy, and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the situation.
The Midrand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) may only be able to protect your animal’s rights for the next month.
The society is in a precarious financial position and may have to close its doors without financial assistance from the community.
The SPCA is the only organisation that is mandated to enforce the Animals Protection Act, and its inspectorate department works round the clock to assist with animal-related emergencies, rescues, cruelty complaints and collections of animals that require intervention and assistance.
Inspector Pam Pretorius, the SPCA general manager said, “The situation is so dire that the SPCA only has sufficient funds to cover its overheads for this month. This puts at risk the well-being of animals that are neglected, lost, unwanted, abandoned, and abused.”
The organisation spends over R250 000 a month on operations such as rescuing animals in need, investigating cases of animal cruelty or abuse, acting on animal-related complaints, and proactively inspecting the condition of domestic and other animals.
Other costs include (per month):
- Salaries: R200 000, with skills and qualifications of some staff between 17 and 40 years of experience in Animal Welfare.
- Veterinary and medical at an average of R60 000
- Fuel and vehicle maintenance of R18 000
- Security at R18 000
- Electricity at R9000
- Phone bills at R8000
In February, the society was plagued by electricity issues. The power was restored on February 25. However, measures put in place for the restoration were to be short-lived as underground faulty cables were the cause of the problem but Eskom did not have the equipment available at the time. Throughout March the society struggled with unreliable power supply. The situation has crippled them financially due to the cost of running generators, using private vets, and the loss of borehole pumping water.
Despite serving the animals and community of Midrand and its surrounds for the past 32 years, the organisation’s funding has drastically decreased amid a struggling economy, and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the situation.
The SPCA’s clinic assists many owners and their animals monthly with primary healthcare. Among many activities that the SPCA has performed for the Midrand communities and wildlife includes the eradication of snares in the areas and the animal rescues they do daily.
Pretorius said the organisation is in dire need of urgent financial support to keep its doors open.
The SPCA has been appealing to the government, corporations, and individuals to support them with small monthly donations, but unfortunately, they still lack stable and sustainable income in the form of donations, which is their only source of income.
“We continue to render services in terms of operating as the municipal pound for Midrand despite no contractual agreement or payment being in place at this time.”
The community has since come out in their numbers to support the society.
Details: For more details on how you can help, click here.
Related Article: Midrand SPCA says it will not stop fighting illegal snares
