Bethal SPCA needs your help
Inspector Laurna Coetzer said that in the past year there has been an unmentionable increase in the intake of animals compared to previous year.
The local SPCA held their annual general meeting on Saturday, July 31.
Ms Laurna Coetzer, the inspector at the Bethal SPCA, said that in the past 14 months of Covid-19, there has been an unmentionable increase in the intake of animals compared to the previous year which has a huge negative financial impact on the organisation.
“With the closure of the Kriel SPCA and soon after the Standerton SPCA; as well as Ermelo which does not have any animal rescue centres, we had inundated requests from the public to collect their animals.
“Lots of animals were also just abandoned because of job losses and lesser incomes due to Covid-19.
“This has put a huge financial strain on us, as we are totally dependent on the public for funding to survive,” said Ms Coetzer.
She said Ermelo, Kriel and Standerton, as well as Morgenzon which was serviced by Standerton SPCA, are not part of their jurisdiction, but Bethal SPCA collected those animals for fear of what might have happened to the animals if they did not.
“If we receive a call from Kriel that the owner wants to surrender their animals because they can’t afford it, we have to go out.
“We can’t just leave the animal, we have to fetch them,” said Ms Coetzer.
She said the SPCA won’t be able to service these towns this year if they continue at their current financial pace.
By now it is common knowledge that Govan Mbeki Municipality does not assist the SPCA financially.
“We do have a fundraising team consisting of private people. We would really appreciate more members who can join the fundraising team.
“We are really battling. We are in urgent need of money,” said Ms Coetzer.
The SPCA also announced the new committee members at the recent AGM.
These members are Ms Carolina Darling, Ms Laurna Coetzer (secretary), Ms Marie van der Merwe, Mr André du Plessis (treasurer), Ms Barbara Mitton (vice-chairperson), Ms Elmarie van Huyssteen and Ms Rina Naudé (chairperson).
Ms Coetzer would like to see more of the public getting involved in helping to fund the SPCA.
“Even if it is an R50 per month on a regular basis it can help a lot,” said Ms Coetzer.
The cost to keep the SPCA running is about R60 000.
The SPCA also have three vehicles that need urgent attention and services.
There are also salaries that need to be paid for the permanent staff who clean and see to the day to day running of the kennels.
Money is also needed for food for the animals, fuel, maintenance work on the kennels, rent and municipal bills among many other expenses.
She said there is no money in the new financial year for much-needed renovations.
The SPCA is calling on the public and businesses of Bethal, Davel, Kriel, Standerton, Morgenzon and Ermelo to help support their new Adopt a Kennel program. For more details visit the Bethal SPCA Facebook page.
“We urgently need and herewith we are extending a warm invitation to people from Ermelo, Standerton, Morgenzon and Kriel to join our fundraising team,” concluded Ms Coetzer.
If you want to donate to the SPCA, their details are as follows:
Banking details:
Account name: SPCA Bethal
Account number: 03 103 325 3
Type of acc: Current/cheque
Bank: Standard bank
Branch code: 05 25 44
Or you can contact the Bethal SPCA at 066 397 1630 (office cell) or for emergencies only call 072 573 3122. Or email office@spcabethal.co.za
