#Covid-19: Benoni SPCA assures public that animal welfare remains a priority during lockdown

After the implementation of the nationwide lockdown, which was effective from midnight on March 26, the Benoni SPCA has put in place stringent measures to ensure that they can continue attending to animal cruelty cases and emergencies.

The lockdown will have a severe impact on the income of the organisation, due to no visitors being allowed on the premises and the suspension of income-generating services and fund-raising events, said Shelly Owens, chairperson of the Benoni SPCA.

She added they are pleading with the community to continue supporting them during this time via their online donation platforms.

“Animal cruelty will not stop due to the nation being on lockdown and we suspect that many animals will suffer in these trying times,” Owens said.

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The following measures took effect at the SPCA at midnight on March 26:

• Staff members are staying on the property to care for the animals already at the SPCA and those admitted in the weeks to come.

• No volunteers will be allowed on the premises during lockdown.

• The SPCA will not be open on Saturdays and only animal emergencies will be attended to.

• Access to the SPCA will be limited and staff will attend to the public at the front gate if necessary.

• Strict biosecurity will be enforced.

Owens said the focus of their work during lockdown will be emergency care, such as animal cruelty cases and sick and injured stray animals.

There is no veterinarian on site at the SPCA.

The SPCA is encouraging its staff to limit interaction with the public and requests that members of the public communicate with them via phone or email only.

How to get hold of the Benoni SPCA:

• Office landline: 011 894 2814/5.

• Emergency after hours: 073 511 2261.

• Email: bspcareception@gmail.com

Note the following:

• Owners will still have the seven-day period to reclaim stray animals.

• Reclaiming of animals will be done by appointment only and proof of identification is essential.

• If you do not have photos of your animals they cannot help you.

• Animal cruelty inspections will proceed as normal and will still receive urgent attention.

• Their inspector will be proactive in inspecting hawking sites, sale yards, pet shops, parlours, security dogs and companies and any other animal-related services.

• Should any members of the public wish to surrender their animals, as normal they will have to bring their animal in themselves.

• The SPCA will only collect confined stray animals.

“We have no authority in terms of legislation to issue affidavits or letters stating persons can feed feral cat colonies,” Owens said.

“Permission for such activities must be obtained from the local Joint Operations Centre, with the assistance of the SAPS.”

All adoptions, she added, are suspended until further notice, due to the movement of members of the public being restricted to buying food, seeking medical care and the like.

All non-essential veterinary services, such as vaccinations, deworming and sterilisations, are suspended until further notice.

The SPCA’s charity shop is also closed.

“We urge our community to remain calm and to take the welfare of their animals into consideration during this time,” said Owens, emphasising that animals cannot transmit the Covid-19 virus.

“Abandoning your animal is a crime and we plead with members of the public to rather surrender their animals to their local SPCA should they not be able to care for them any longer.

“We assure the public that we remain dedicated to our core mandate – the prevention of cruelty to animals – which we must do in a responsible way.

“We ask for the public’s understanding and support during this difficult time while we do our part to flatten the curve of coronavirus.

“Let’s continue working for the animals and show compassion to every living creature that walks this earth.”

The following organisations will also be available for animal emergencies during the lockdown:

• The Animal Guardians (076 330 5736).

• Purple Red Paws (074 412 2962).

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