Outrage over dog euthanasia at Waltloo SPCA
The euthanasia of a 10-year-old Golden Retriever has sparked outrage against the Watloo SPCA.
The euthanasia of Rocky, a Golden Retriever, by the Watloo SPCA has sparked an outrage on social media.
Rocky’s owner Kurtis Coetzee said he had to move into a flat and could no longer take care of the dog so he had taken it to the Watloo SPCA on Saturday.
When a friend went to Watloo SPCA to enquire into the dog’s welfare a few days later, Coetzee discovered it had already been euthanised the day after he had taken it there.
Coetzee wrote on Facebook that if he had known about Wollies, the nonprofit animal project that specialises in finding adoptive homes for dogs, he would have taken Rocky to Wollies instead not the SPCA.
Comments flooded the Wollies Facebook page with many users saying they would have been willing to give Rocky a new home. They also questioned the speed with which the dog was euthanased.
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“I thought that SPCA would act in the best interests of the dog and would have handed him over to Wollies instead of simply euthanising,” Coetzee said.
The Tshwane SPCA responded in a statement released late on Tuesday evening saying policy did not allow it to release animals to other organisations.
It said before any decision was taken on the future of an animal in its care, it had to determine the animal’s rehoming suitability, current and potential health issues and age.
The SPCA said Rocky had been assessed and observed by its in-house vet and animal welfare personnel.
“After careful observation and assessment of Rocky’s demeanour in the kennel environment, his age, potential health concerns, rehoming suitability as well as our shelter capacity and the reasons for his surrender, the difficult decision was taken to humanely euthanise him.”
Rocky was ten years old.
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“There are no time limits, or so-called pound-period, on an animal surrendered to the SPCA. A decision is taken at the earliest opportunity whether to place the animals for adoption, or not. Stray animals are however sheltered for seven days as per our policy.
“We are obliged to keep stray animals for a period of seven days to allow the owner an opportunity to find them. After the seven day period, adoptable animals are placed up for adoption as per our policy.”
The SPCA further said calls to withdraw its funding and support would do more harm than good to the animals it tended to.
Coetzee said he shared the feelings of the outraged Facebook community.
“My view is that Rocky was put to sleep because he was not used to being in a small cage and was scared of his unfamiliar circumstances,” said Coetzee. “The SPCA staff misinterpreted his behaviour.”
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