SPCA under attack for euthanasing unwanted animals

After a recent Facebook attack on the Durban and Coast SPCA, accusing it of “being heartless and ruthless regarding euthanasia”, SPCA income development and communications manager, Lindsey Fogarty spoke out.

“The SPCA is the organisation left holding the babies. We did not create the overwhelming problem of huge overpopulation of domestic cats and dogs in South Africa,” said Fogarty in a reply to the string of insults on the Durban North Neighbours page, which was shared on the Ballito Pets page.

“That blame can only be placed on the people in the community we live in: the pet owners who do not sterilise their animals; the greedy, who wish to make a buck from back yard breeding; the irresponsible who only want a security system and not a pet to love and care for.

“The SPCA deals daily with unwanted and abused animals including those so severely neglected that they are at death’s door when they arrive.”

She said they receive about 1000 animals every month, with a sad average of 70 adoptions monthly.

“The high incidence of humane euthanasia is a stark reality of working in animal welfare. The accusation that we have to meet a quota of animals to put to sleep each month, and that we make money from euthanasia is completely incorrect.

“Euthanasia has enormous costs attached for medical supplies and cremation. There are several other organisations who, when unable to treat or re-home animals, hand them over to the SPCA for euthanasia and we will not turn away any animal.”

Contrary to popular belief, there is no specific time that an animal is kept until it is put to sleep. Animals are kept for the seven day pound time as per Ethekwini municipal bylaws before being put up for adoption.

“This is to allow time for owners to track down what might be their lost pet. We will keep healthy animals for as long as possible until they are hopefully adopted.”

Only once an animal falls ill, or suffers from kennel stress/aggression or they run out of space, will they put the animal to sleep.

Besides re-homing, their inspectorate fight in the field for abused and neglected animals and they run clinics offering vital treatment for animals of underprivileged pet owners, Ballito being one of these satellite branches.

“Vicious attacks on our integrity and work ethic do nothing but create negativity about the very difficult work we carry out.

“Please bear in mind the impact this can have on public support and the services which we offer. It is dreadfully hurtful, demoralising and demotivating for our staff, who are truly dedicated, hard working animals lovers – many of whom have dedicated their lives to working in animal welfare – to read these slanderous posts.”

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