As a new resident in the area, I would like to let you know that I will definitely never set my foot at Benoni SPCA ever again, for as long as we live in Benoni.
It is time to find new homes for the remainder of our puppies, but a local pet shop won’t accept them if they have not received the first vaccinations.
I called the vet and was told that they wouldn’t be able to assist me as they were not open on Saturday, but that I should try our local SPCA.
Due to work, the only available time to do this, was today (Saturday).
I called the SPCA to enquire whether they would be able to assist me, what the costs would be and got all the necessary info, to get down there before 12.30pm.
When we got there with the three pups, we were met by five employees. First all of them adored the pups, until a woman asked me whether she could assist me.
I replied that I had brought the pups for their vaccinations and before I could even finish my sentence, one woman threw her toys out of the cot, going on about “under no circumstances”; that according to Animal Law “dogs need to be sterilised before being injected, etc….”
I replied that they were going to a pet shop, and again I was rudely interrupted, with “that’s even more reason, blah blah blah….”
When she finally kept quiet, I asked the woman who originally tried to assist me why their staff members told me, a few minutes earlier, over the telephone, that I should bring in the puppies and gave me costs.
She didn’t answer me, but pulled up her shoulders and said to the rude woman: “It must have been ….”
To the rude, unhelpful and abrupt woman at the SPCA:
1 Do you treat all people in that way?
2 Friendliness costs nothing.
3 Could you guys discuss what you do and don’t do and ensure that all staff are aware of that.
4 The hell with your “Animal Law” blah blah blah, as I had three male pups with me, and I only wanted to get their vaccinations done, and I did enquire and was told that I could bring them.
No wonder people are posting bad articles about the SPCA, as now I know that it is true and I will never recommend people to visit your branch. Lee Roelofse, I share your sentiment.
Editor’s note:
Lauren Wooldridge, secretary of the management committee of SPCA Benoni, responded as follows:
Dear Public,
Under absolutely no circumstances whatsoever will we ever and absolutely ever consider assisting in any way with the sale of animals to pet shops.
We apologise to the person who wrote in for wasting their time in coming to the SPCA, we have a few new volunteers working on Saturdays who we clearly need to tweak on their training.
We also encourage the public, and the person involved to sterilise their animal(s).
As far as we are concerned there are already far too many homeless dogs.
Any member of the public who wishes to benefit from the discounted rate of inoculation we offer, please ensure your pet is sterilised before coming to us, as we will not offer this service to unsterilised animals.
