Prodigal pooches cause controversy over fees

MANY are quick to criticise the SPCA without considering the role they play in society or that they have certain rules and procedures they are obliged to follow.

Following a recent debate on Facebook regarding stray animals and the SPCA’s policies and procedures regarding the fees incurred when lost pets are claimed after a prolonged period under the care of the SPCA, here are a few guidelines and tips to consider if your pet is lost, or has been recovered by the SPCA, tips which are freely available on the SPCA website.

In the event of losing your pet, Vryheid SPCA recommends that you vigorously pursue the following resources:

1 Contact your local SPCA. Note: If giving a report by phone be prepared to give a detailed physical description. It is always best to come view the animals in person and if possible, leave a photograph with the SPCA.

2 Place an advertisement in the lost and found section of the local newspaper.

3 Contact surrounding veterinary clinics.

4 Make door to door enquiries in immediate and surrounding neighbourhoods.

5 Make flyers using a clear photograph and detailed description of your pet for placement in all locations of inquiry.

Miscellaneous tips for finding your pet: Most lost cats tend to stay in the general vicinity from which they disappeared. It is rare that they would wander out of the immediate neighbourhood, unless perhaps, they were recently moved. Be patient and creative in your search. A lost dog will tend to travel into the oncoming wind. This should be your first direction of search. After you find your pet, report back to all the facilities where you left a report. Spay or neuter your pet. This will help alleviate your pet’s desire to roam and has many other benefits.

Stray animals brought to the SPCA, unless extremely sick or severely injured, are kept for a period of seven days to allow their owners to claim them. After this period, they are assessed according to their age, temperament and health at which point they will be put up for adoption. If your pet has been picked up by the SPCA and remains unclaimed for a period longer than seven days, yes, you will have to adopt them, even though they are your pets.

Although this may seem unfair to some, bear in mind the alternative. Had the animals in question not been rescued by the SPCA, their fate may have been different. In their time at the SPCA, they are fed and cared for, receiving the necessary innoculations, as well as being sterilised and dewormed. All this costs money.

For further information regarding policies and procedures at the SPCA, visit www.spcavryheid.org.za or contact Vryheid SPCA on 034 980 8888.