Decision to close SPCA hospital was not easy

Community members have flooded the comments sections on social media after the SPCA Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp announced the closure of their hospital on Friday September 3. Although this came as a shock to the animal rescue industry, the centre’s general manager, Mandy Cattanach said the decision to close the hospital was not taken lightly.

“The decision to close the hospital was not made easily but every month the hospital was running at a huge financial loss. As an animal welfare hospital our purpose was to only assist indigent pet owners or pet owners who qualify under the almoning system. Our hospital rates and treatments were much cheaper for this reason,” she explained.

The SPCA will be operating as usual and this includes the inspectorate and kennels. Cattanach assured that inspectors will continue investigating complaints about animal cruelty, “The kennels will still be accepting stray and unwanted animals. Adoptions will be going ahead as usual.” Inspectors will also be performing their duties in the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp jurisdiction.

The animal pound is part of the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA. That means that the SPCA is the legal Municipal Pound in the Roodepoort area for all stray animals as stated in the municipal by-laws pertaining to animals.

“Only a very few SPCAs have Animal Welfare Hospitals (Tshwane SPCA, Cape of Good Hope SPCA). The Animal Anti-Cruelty League in the South of Johannesburg has a hospital, and The Society for Animals in Distress has a hospital. There are a number of private veterinary practices in the Roodepoort area,” Mandy added.

Residents and community members are still encouraged to donate and support the SPCA in order for them to continue the work they do.

These are the banking details for donations towards the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA KENNELS and INSPECTORATE:

SPCA Roodepoort

Standard Bank

Acc no: 410411094

Branch: 001206