Highveld Ridge SPCA needs your help
Don’t let your personal feelings come in the way of helping the animals
HIGHVELD – Imagine a town where animal cruelty is rife, but nothing is being done about it.
Imagine no one is taking the animal abusers to court. Not even allegations of animal cruelty are investigated and there is no one with the legal authority to remove animals from their terrible environments.
Imagine an animal falling into a pit or a manhole and there is no one to rescue it. Imagine live stock being piled on top of each other to be sold at a stock yard and nobody can take the owner of these animals to task.
These situations are at the brink of becoming a reality if the local SPCA does not get urgent financial help.
Their only vehicles need to be serviced. They fear the day when they can no longer respond to an animal cruelty call because the petrol tank is empty.
Funds have been depleted and the basic operations of the SPCA offices in Kriel, Secunda, Evander and Standerton are in the balance. Soon the already small number of staff will be cut or be completely laid off.
Also read: If no help arrives by the end of May, the Highveld Ridge SPCA will close down
The staff of the SPCA have this past week alone worked on cases that included the removal of a nanny goat that did not get medical treatment for a broken leg in three weeks, the investigation of a dog that choked to death on its own chain and a court case after grey hounds had been saved.
Since the announcement by Ms Willemien Steyn, Highveld Ridge SPCA chairman, last week that the SPCA is facing closure, the community has been active.
A good home was found for two of the horses and Fiona the donkey, and several donations were made, but much is still needed to keep these offices operational. Suggestions have also surfaced to ask each person in the area for a R50 a month donation. This will change their predicament immediately.
Ms Steyn thanked those who have already contributed to help keep the SPCA afloat.
The SPCA is completely dependent on donors and sponsors. They no longer receive money from the National Lotto or Govan Mbeki Municipality that owes the SPCA thousands of rand.
“Many people are frustrated and unwilling to donate to the SPCA because they have been on the receiving end of a cruelty investigation.
“We ask that people understand the impossible situation faced by us where we have to respond to allegations of cruelty and are forced to follow the letter of the law when it comes to dealing with animals in a compromised position.
“Don’t let your personal feelings come in the way of helping the animals,” said Ms Steyn.
(Correction: Please take note that the Bethal SPCA is not part of the Highveld Ridge SPCA and is responsible for their own fundraising – Editor)
