SPCA Tshwane runs on donations with over 400 animals per month
With only 38 staff members and seven vehicles, it services an area of 6 400 square kilometres, from Brits to Bela Bela, and Bronkhorstspruit to Olievenhoutbosch.
SPCA Tshwane provides a vital service to the communities across the city and beyond, from taking in surrendered pets to site inspections and interventions to save vulnerable animals. They are pleading with the public to help with dog jerseys and fleecy blankets in this bitterly cold weather.
It receives no funding from the government, with all funds coming from donations, adoptions and fundraising events.
Rekord recently visited the Centurion branch, finding an organised and clean facility with all kennels filled with animals.
SPCA Tshwane runs at R800 000 per month and services an area of 6 400 square kilometres, from Brits to Bela Bela, and Bronkhorstspruit to just before Midrand.
The regional SPCA has two branches in the city: Centurion and Waltloo in the east of Pretoria.
To run the facility, the organisation has a bi-weekly market on Thursdays and has charity shops and stalls selling household items from donations.
They also get funding for events, such as their upcoming Masquerade Ball, set for July 21.
“The ball was an initiative we thought could generate some money while having a bit of fun,” said Jeanine Niemann-Greatorex, director of SPCA Tshwane.
The ball includes a three-course meal and prizes, including two break-away holidays.
SPCA Tshwane has 38 permanent staff members, including only five inspectors and a field officer, with one trainee inspector. Much of the funds go to paying staff who are often called out on after-hour emergencies.
Niemann-Greatorex explains that some cases require immediate action.
These cases often involve an animal or people who are in immediate danger, or wild animals.
A recent such case involved the illegal trade of wild animals, where SPCA inspectors and law enforcement officials intercepted a poacher, managing to recover the small animals.
“You often have just one shot at catching the guys and recovering the animals in these cases,” said Niemann-Greatorex.
SPCA Tshwane takes in about 400 animals, with only 25 to 40 adoptions per month.
Once, the SPCA only managed four adoptions in a month.
Niemann-Greatorex explains that there are only 160 housing spaces at Waltloo and 158 at the Centurion branch, including large runs where smaller animals such as rabbits are kept.
Most animals that they take in come from surrenders from individuals who can no longer take care of their pets.
Niemann-Greatorex said that many of these pets come from owners moving to smaller residences or to complexes where the body corporate does not allow pets.
These surrenders can be difficult to process for some of the staff.
They told Rekord that in one case, a man had become very attached to his kitten, but was forced by his body corporate to surrender his cat. “We had this man crying in our reception as he had to leave his kitten that he had taken such good care of.”
In another case, a family asked SPCA officials to take in their dogs after community members threw stones and petrol at their dog, claiming that they were afraid of the animals.
Despite these and many more heart-breaking stories, the passionate staff do all they can to do their work within the tight budgets they have to work with.
When an animal is surrendered or a stray is brought into the SPCA, the animals must first be quarantined in a special holding area.
This is done to ensure that the incoming animals do not have any serious diseases.
“Some of the more serious diseases would mean that if it broke out and infected the other animals, we would have to initiate special quarantine procedures,” says Niemann-Greatorex.
The SPCA welcomes donations of all kinds, such as food to meet the needs of 150kg for dogs and 50kg for cats every single day.
Blankets are welcomed, but Niemann-Greatorex says residents should avoid non-woven fabrics like the grey blankets often sold as pet blankets.
“These don’t last and can only be used once. Fleece material works best,” she explains.
SPCA Tshwane will be hosting its AGM at their Waltloo branch on July 22 at 10:00.
SPCA members and members of the public are welcome to attend to find out more information integrated transport facility.
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