Roodepoort Krugersdorp SPCA endures nightmare festive season
Roughly 900 cats and dogs were handed in to Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA
The holidays are characterised by carefree days, savouring every ounce of fun in an attempt to maximise the time off. Obligations are forgotten, impulsive decisions are made and when the dust settles on the mayhem, often a trail of destruction is left behind.
Bearing the full brunt of human recklessness is the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA. The organisation is used too often as society’s dumping site. Seen as having a magic wand to relieve people of their canine and feline responsibilities, the SPCA has taken in strays and surrenders in droves. Between the start of December and the first week of January the SPCA had taken in almost 900 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens.
Mandy Cattanach of the SPCA shared the pain her organisation went through over the holiday period. ”Normally over the Christmas period when people see a box they get excited. Every time the SPCA staff saw a box being brought into the SPCA a small piece of our hearts died, as we know the box would either be filled with cats and kittens or puppies,” Mandy recounted.
Over 450 felines of various ages were brought in to the SPCA for reasons ranging between owners being allergic, cats being too noisy, owners moving or emigrating, or because owners simply cannot keep them any longer. The number of dogs and puppies brought in totaled over 400, with the continued prevalence of fireworks as well as stormy weather leading to an increase in strays.
Additional low points of the holiday season were power-breed dogs being handed in for being overly aggressive, and false reports of animal cruelty.
“The dogs had become aggressive towards their owners or even severely attacked the owner. All dogs need training and lots of attention from their owners. The inspectors investigated 104 animal-cruelty complaints. Only about two thirds were actual animal cruelty related complaints, but every single call we receive we have to respond to,” Mandy commented.
Mandi hopes for a better 2020, pleading optimistically, “The Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA’s wish for 2020 is for pet owners to take responsibility for their pets and to provide the care and love all pets deserve and need. Now more than ever we need the community’s generosity. We have hundreds of animals to take care of. Every cent, every bag of cat or dog food, and every donation of household items we can sell in our charity shop will go a long way towards helping us care for the animals that rely on us.”
