Highveld Ridge SPCA holds AGM

SECUNDA – Highveld Ridge SPCA was involved with the welfare of more than 1 120 animals during the past year.

These ranged from dogs and cats to cows, birds and even hamsters.

Ms Mariska Strydom, chairman of the Highveld Ridge SPCA since February, said that wherever their paths lead them, the time they spent with the SPCA was as comfortable, warm and loving as possible.

Ms Strydom delivered her chairman’s report at the Highveld Ridge SPCA’s annual general meeting held at the Garden Terrace on Wednesday night, 18 November.

The SPCA’s committee, the former chairman, representatives from the various animal welfare organisations in the area and the media attended the meeting.

“The longer I am involved in animal welfare, the more I realised that humans are the most challenging part of animal welfare. Animals being sentient beings feeling pain, love and loss were quickly replaced with the absolute shock of human nature towards animals and our planet,” Ms Strydom said.

“There are many things that I would rather forget from the past year, animals being beaten half to death, various animals being hit by a car and left behind with mortal wounds, confined animals, broken animals starving animals left for dead because of a drought of sickness.

These are unfortunately real occurrences around the 11 towns that we cover.”

She said that being on the gruesome side of animal welfare makes those who stand up for the institution and its rules easy targets for the uninformed.

“It is easier to point a finger and find fault. It is easier to delegate than to do it yourself.

“It is easier for the keyboard warrior to destroy months of hard work, blood, sweat and tears with one sentence.”

Ms Strydom said despite financial constraints and the Covid-19 pandemic, the SPCA kept their doors open.

She thanked the hard-working staff, volunteers and everyone involved this last year. She urged the community, businesses and industries to help the SPCA to remain a beacon of hope for animal welfare.

The former chairman, Mr Nick Strydom, was granted permission from the NSPCA to facilitate the meeting and also to present the financial statements of the previous term, as these had been unavailable at last year’s AGM.

The latest financial statements were, however, also not available at the time of this AGM. Ms Strydom explained that the new auditor dealing with the SPCA’s books fell extremely ill. This, along with the Covid-19 pandemic contributed to the delay of getting the financial statements in on time. She did however assured those present that the Highveld Ridge SPCA is getting back on its feet after it was basically bankrupted less than two years ago.

Those in attendance were especially interested in which actions the SPCA has taken to educate locals and to prevent cruelties, the financial expenditures of the SPCA and transparency.

Ms Ancois van Zyl, an attendee, said everyone in animal welfare is there to help the SPCA and to give constructive advice.

Ms Chantal Vorster from Because Dogs & Co applauded the SPCA’s workers for always being willing to help.

The committee presented Mr Themba Malinga as the trainee inspector at the SPCA who has been conducting numerous outreaches.

Ms Strydom also asked other organisations and the public to be patient with them.

A new committee was also elected. They are Ms Mari Henriet, Ms Mariska Strydom, Ms Madri O’Neil, Ms Ellouise Campbell and Ms Michelle Liebenberg.