SPCA won’t collect strays until the municipality pays for pound services
GMM owes the Highveld Ridge SPCA more than half a million rand for running the municipal pound and the SPCA have suspended the service until payment is received.
Stray cats and dogs as well as livestock will no longer be collected by the Highveld Ridge SPCA
The Govan Mbeki Municipality is obliged to provide a pound service for all stray domestic animals as well as large and small livestock.
In the past, this service was provided by the Highveld Ridge SPCA, subject to the payment of a pound fee and based on an agreement entered into by the Highveld Ridge SPCA and the municipality.
Over the past few years, however, payment of the pound fees has been sporadic at best and in recent months no payment was received at all.
According to Ms Jenneth Geel, the number one duty of the SPCA remains to investigate, prevent and, where possible, prosecute cases of animal cruelty – something that can not be done if valuable SPCA resources are being used to perform a duty that by rights the SPCA should be receiving payment for.
“We had no choice but to take this matter up with our management committee and after attempting to negotiate with the municipality for a number of months, to no avail, a decision was made.”
The management committee resolved on Tuesday, 15 August, that no animals would be collected by SPCA staff any longer.
According to Ms Vania Brand, vice-chairman, the committee had no choice but to act on this.
“At present the municipality owes the SPCA more than half a million rand, money without which we cannot continue to offer pound services.
“We have given the municipality ample time to respond to us, we have sent notifications indicating that the service will be suspended due to non-payment, and with no comment forthcoming, we had to make this difficult decision.”
Ms Geel, however, confirmed that, in accordance with the SPCA Act, they would not turn away any stray or unwanted animal brought to their premises on the road between Secunda and Evander.
“We must remain a place of safety for all animals and will never refuse an animal brought to us – we simply cannot continue using staff and vehicles to collect animals that are the municipality’s responsibility.”
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