It has been raining cats and dogs at the SPCA with strays and animal donations streaming in in unprecedented numbers and leading to a desperate public appeal for food.Cats came into the shelter in especially high numbers, according to operations manager Lionel Taylor, who said that since a Facebook appeal went out a week ago, only one bag of dog food had been donated.
“January is a very, very bad time for people financially.
“Normally we are inundated with food and so we are on the verge of having to buy food because our stocks have been depleted. Having to buy food would impact on the work we do – like sterilisation.”
The SPCA is a non-profit organisation and relies purely on donations to feed their animals. It requires 20kg of dog food a day for large dogs, 5kg for small dogs and 4kg for puppies. The cattery needs include 4kg of cat food and 4kg of kitten food per day.
In November a record-breaking 442 stray and donated cats landed up at the SPCA.
“It is the highest we’ve had in one month,” said Taylor. “The big problem is that people are not spaying their animals.”
Dogs also arrived in their droves. In December a staggering 323 stray and donated dogs were checked into the welfare organisation, well above the monthly average of 292.
And, because just 1% of stray cats and only 40% of stray dogs are claimed by their owners, many have to be put down.
“The euthanasia figures are astronomical,” said Taylor. “It’s terrible, but what can we do?”
Taylor said that although the obvious answer to the unwanted animal crisis was to sterilise household pets, the SPCA could only offer reduced neutering rates to those who earn a very low income. However, he preferred not to reveal specifics of who qualified for lower rates.
Dr Pierre Hensburg, who owns Greenfields Vet and Kidds Beach Vet and is the chairman of East London Veterinary Clinicians, said he charges between R1900 and R2750 to spay bitches, depending on their size, while dog castration costs between R1300 and R1800.
Female cats cost between R1100 and R1200 to spay while tomcats are neutered for between R770 and R850. Pets adopted from the SPCA are automatically sterilised, a procedure included in the adoption fee of R750 for dogs and R550 for cats.
Dog and cat food donations can be dropped off at the SPCA charity shop on Vincent Road or at the SPCA in Amalinda. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
SPCA in plea for aid after flood of strays
Cats came into the shelter in especially high numbers, according to operations manager Lionel Taylor, who said that since a Facebook appeal went out a week ago, only one bag of dog food had been donated.
“January is a very, very bad time for people financially.
“Normally we are inundated with food and so we are on the verge of having to buy food because our stocks have been depleted. Having to buy food would impact on the work we do – like sterilisation.”
The SPCA is a non-profit organisation and relies purely on donations to feed their animals. It requires 20kg of dog food a day for large dogs, 5kg for small dogs and 4kg for puppies. The cattery needs include 4kg of cat food and 4kg of kitten food per day.
In November a record-breaking 442 stray and donated cats landed up at the SPCA.
“It is the highest we’ve had in one month,” said Taylor. “The big problem is that people are not spaying their animals.”
Dogs also arrived in their droves. In December a staggering 323 stray and donated dogs were checked into the welfare organisation, well above the monthly average of 292.
And, because just 1% of stray cats and only 40% of stray dogs are claimed by their owners, many have to be put down.
“The euthanasia figures are astronomical,” said Taylor. “It’s terrible, but what can we do?”
Taylor said that although the obvious answer to the unwanted animal crisis was to sterilise household pets, the SPCA could only offer reduced neutering rates to those who earn a very low income. However, he preferred not to reveal specifics of who qualified for lower rates.
Dr Pierre Hensburg, who owns Greenfields Vet and Kidds Beach Vet and is the chairman of East London Veterinary Clinicians, said he charges between R1900 and R2750 to spay bitches, depending on their size, while dog castration costs between R1300 and R1800.
Female cats cost between R1100 and R1200 to spay while tomcats are neutered for between R770 and R850. Pets adopted from the SPCA are automatically sterilised, a procedure included in the adoption fee of R750 for dogs and R550 for cats.
Dog and cat food donations can be dropped off at the SPCA charity shop on Vincent Road or at the SPCA in Amalinda. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos