Alberton SPCA welcomes seasoned administrator
New Alberton SPCA’s senior administrator, Darryn Potgieter, whose passion for animal welfare was birthed while volunteering in Thailand, took up his new role on July 12.
Darryn Potgieter is the senior administrator at the Alberton SPCA.
He has worked for the SPCA for the last three years and has only been at Alberton SPCA for a month.
The animal lover found his passion for animal welfare while volunteering in Thailand. This was at Soi Dog in Phuket, between 2018 and 2020. He spent six months volunteering at Soi Dog translated, ‘street or ally’ dog, and during his time abroad he volunteered at Soi Dog, Bhodi Dog and the Phuket Stray Dog Pound.
This is where he decided to learn about animal behaviour and dog training. While at Soi Dog, he was a volunteer who cared for, walked and interacted with over 30 dogs per day.
He said some of these dogs were abandoned and others were strays, while many were rescued from the Asian dog meat trade.
Home soil
Potgieter arrived in South Africa in early 2020, just before the hard lockdown. During this time, he studied animal behaviour, psychology, and training online.
“Once the Covid-19 regulations eased, I started volunteering at Johannesburg SPCA. After eight months, the position of kennel manager opened, and I was offered the position of looking after all the animals that came into our care,” he explained.
After one year and 10 months, a great opportunity to run an SPCA as a manager arose, and they offered him the position of general manager of the Benoni SPCA.
“It was a great achievement in my professional life. Unfortunately, due to logistical reasons, I could not continue in the position. Thankfully, Charmain and the Alberton SPCA saw my value and experience and offered me the senior administrator position,” he said.
Potgieter is a single dad to a beautiful Collie-cross he adopted from the Johannesburg SPCA.
He said he adopted Sadie, his ‘partner in crime’ while doing his animal behaviour course. “She is now a little brat who is living her best life.”
According to Potgieter, animal cruelty happens in every country around the world, either through neglect, poverty, ignorance or plain human cruelty.
“Someone needs to be there for the animals. Sadly, this is not an easy job and not a job for anyone. Qualified persons need to make tough decisions daily, deal with unthinkable situations and see unimaginable positions animals are put in.
“Sometimes I question myself, but if I don’t look out for the animals, then who will?” he stated.
