Newcastle SPCA held its 2025/2026 annual general meeting (AGM) last week at Leighton Courts, highlighting the many triumphs and challenges the organisation has faced over the past year.

This AGM, however, was a bit different to previous ones, as the organisation also bade farewell to an integral part of its operations…

After being a part of Newcastle SPCA for nearly 20 years, treasurer Heather Gero officially announced her retirement from the organisation. She and her husband, Attie Gero, have officially laid down roots in the beautiful city of Somerset West in the Western Cape.

Teary-eyed and emotional, Heather thanked each and every person she had met along the way who had supported her during her time at the organisation. She encouraged them to continue supporting the organisation despite her departure, saying that they truly needed all the support they could get to continue operating and saving animals.

Although Heather is retiring from her role as treasurer, she will remain on the management board, offering her support where she can.

Heather handed over the role of treasurer to long-standing managing committee member Petro Gast.

The Newcastle Advertiser editor and team would like to wish Heather and Attie the best of luck in their new venture, and wish them many happy years ahead as they enjoy their retirement among their children and grandchildren.

Another leadership change at emotional AGM

Leighton Chetty also announced his retirement as chairman of the SPCA, handing over the reins to incoming chairman Leandra Black.

Before announcing his departure, Chetty delivered his final chairman’s report, thanking all those who continue to support the organisation.

He explained the SPCA’s sole mandate, which is to protect animals that are abused, abandoned and neglected. The SPCA achieves this goal mainly through teaching responsible pet ownership and promoting the ‘adopt, don’t shop’ mentality.

He also encouraged people to stop giving their animals away through social media channels, as this puts those animals in potentially harmful situations.

He further stated that Newcastle SPCA admitted a total of 1687 animals into their shelters this past year. This included 1646 domestic animals, 13 farm animals and 28 others. They attended to 301 cruelty cases and inspected a total of 42,100 animals.

He further thanked SPCA inspector Jenavieve Tinkler for all her hard work, mentioning that she worked a 24/7 job within a 150km radius around Newcastle and yet never complained when it came to the safety and security of an animal in need.

He further encouraged the community to continue supporting the organisation, as they are not government-funded and solely rely on the community’s support and donations to continue operating.

SPCA appeals for greater financial support

Heather Gero then delivered her final treasurer’s report, highlighting the fact that Newcastle SPCA had taken on more responsibilities than ever, but was doing so with fewer funds.

“We need a lot more support if we want to continue operating and we also need a whole lot more responsible animal ownership. The SPCA is not here to help you be a responsible animal owner; we’re here to enforce it!” she explained.

She continued that, “A lot of people expect us to ensure that their animals are inoculated or sterilized and to pay for it too, but that is not our mandate. We’re here to make sure that you can look after your animals and are doing what is needed to ensure that your animals are happy and healthy.”

She then thanked the community for their endless donations of food and blankets, and other essential items, but reiterated that the SPCA was in dire need of more financial funding to ensure that important expenses such as vet bills, water and lights, staff salaries and petrol could be paid for. “Just a small donation, even if it’s just R30 or R50 every month, could make the biggest difference,” she said.

She further explained that fundraising, despite being a great source of income in the past, was just not cutting it anymore.

The SPCA is also in the process of getting PayPal and a card machine for those potential donors who don’t carry cash but want to make a contribution.

She then thanked their auditors, who help the SPCA every year to ensure that their financials remain in good condition.

Heather’s speech was followed by an emotional slideshow, showing the various severe abuse cases Jenavieve had worked on this past year, highlighting how essential an organisation such as the SPCA is to the community at large.

Before concluding, gifts of appreciation were handed over to both Heather and Leighton, thanking them for their long-standing service and dedication to the organisation.

A gift of appreciation was also handed over to Sealpro and the Newcastle Lions Club for their dedication to the revamp and renovations at the SPCA.

The evening ended with emotional speeches as the committee said a bittersweet farewell to both Heather and Leighton before indulging in delicious snacks, tea and coffee – a perfect ending to the chilly evening.

Remember to support your local SPCA

To help the SPCA continue its rescue work and prevent animal cruelty, residents and businesses are encouraged to offer support.

Donations can be made as follows:

• ABSA Bank
• SPCA fund-raising account
• Account number: 1055870701
• Reference: Initial and surname donation

A Section 18A certificate is available on request.

Proof of payment can be emailed to admin@newcastlespca.co.za

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