Alberton SPCA keeps furry friends’ memories alive
For the first time ever, the Alberton SPCA has offered a space for the community to honour their furry friends in a special and meaningful way.
Alberton SPCA has undergone major and remarkable improvements, a testament to their commitment to promoting animal welfare.
In their quest to honour furry friends, the Alberton SPCA has dedicated a wall to afford locals the opportunity to remember their beloved animals in a special way.
“Our animals mean so much to us and nowadays it’s not really easy to bury your pet in your yard. At a very small fee, locals could purchase a plaque and be able to put their own description and their pet’s name on it, in memory of their pet that has passed away,” explained Alberton SPCA general manager Charmain Southon.
They have dedicated a wall for this to take place.
For a small amount, R250, Charmain said this will get locals a plaque with their preferred wording engraved, which will then be mounted onto their remembrance wall.
“It was Carol Paterson, one of our committee members, who came up with this wonderful idea. Also, when your special pet passes away and gets cremated, people normally do keep the ashes, which normally get given to you in quite a big wooden box, and you would put it inside your home. But return of ashes is very expensive these days,” she explained.
She said the small fee still goes back to looking after the animals that don’t have loving homes.
Major strides
Charmain extended her gratitude to the unwavering support received from the many generous community members
“Members of the public have blown us away with donations. Whenever we put up a post stating that we’re in desperate need of donations, they pull through. Towards the end of last year, we asked the public to kindly contribute towards a new exercise garden. We only had two, but we are thrilled to announce that we now have the third exercise garden up and running,” she said.
This allows them the opportunity to afford their dogs more time out in the garden.
Charmain reiterated that they will now be able to help more community members.
“We also managed to build at least five new kennels, which we built from three big storage rooms and we’ll be able to house more animals. The kennels are still under construction and we need assistance in finishing them off with putting up steelwork and painting them,” she said.
Unfortunately, despite celebrating all the improvements, just recently an intruder jumped over the Alberton SPCA’s wall and stole their gate motor.
Become a member at SPCA
The entity also calls upon the community to become valued members of the Alberton SPCA.
“Their membership plays a crucial role in helping us to continue fighting animal cruelty, provide shelter and medical care, promote sterilisations, and give love to countless animals who have been abandoned, neglected or abused. With your support, we can continue our efforts to find forever homes for these deserving animals and advocate for their welfare in our community,” she explained.
The membership includes discounted vaccinations for animals adopted from the Alberton SPCA, quarterly newsletters, invitations to the AGM and voting rights, and monthly pet care tips.
Members will be the first to know about the various events that the Alberton SPCA hosts and will be allowed to use their dog boarding facility.
“We are incredibly grateful for your support. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of animals and create a more compassionate community. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us,” she said.
Should you wish to assist the Alberton SPCA or for more information, contact them on 011 907 1568 or via email at fundraising@spcaalberton.org.za
