Willie Joythe will be in charge of Highveld Ridge SPCA while senior inspector is on leave
“I initially volunteered to help out with maintenance and odd jobs in and around the kennels, but I soon saw the need for more inspectors”
EVANDER – Mr Willie Joythe (29) was officially authorised by the National SPCA and local magistrates to help the Highveld Ridge SPCA with cruelty inspections, education and investigations of cruelty to animals.
He received the NSPCA authorisation on 6 June, but has in fact been a volunteer inspector since 2015. With his authorisation, he is qualified to give assistance in animal welfare and health care on small animals such as dogs and cats.
Mr Joythe, a process controller at Sasol, became involved with the Highveld Ridge SPCA because he wanted to make a difference in his community.
“I initially volunteered to help out with maintenance and odd jobs in and around the kennels, but I soon saw the need for more inspectors,” explained Mr Joythe. He is also the vice chairman of the Kriel SPCA committee.
He realised how much he wanted to help animals when Ms Jenneth Geel, senior inspector, began taking him along to investigations on his off days. Mr Joythe enrolled and passed the entrance exam to become an inspector. Students must also, as part of the course, compile a detailed project on animal welfare. Mr Joythe submitted a study on animals and sale yards.
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He gained knowledge and information on these by joining the other inspectors when they inspected sale yards. “Here I have learned one of my most valuable lessons – always carry sunblock!”
Mr Joythe jested that he almost burned to a crisp because of his pale skin the first time that he visited a live stock auction.
“I have always loved animals and I want to help them. My wife, Eliza, shares this passion. She is the receptionist at the SPCA.
“We have three dog-children, Ava, a cross bred between a Jack Russell and a fox terrier, Adolf, a Jack Russell, and Flash, a Schnauzer rescue that we saved from a puppy mill in Ermelo.”
There is only one other thing that is as important to Mr Joythe as the welfare of animals – family.
“I am a family man. I have a very close-knit family and we love spending time together.” He grew up in Krugersdorp, but work opportunities brought him to this area.The other love in his life is a 1970 Opel Record Coupe which he is in the process of restoring to its former glory.
Mr Joythe is thankful for the authorisation bestowed on him as an inspector. He will be the inspector in charge of investigations for several weeks while Ms Geel is on leave from the end of June.
