NSPCA reeling after Lotto excludes animal welfare

THE shocking news that the NSPCA will not be considered in this year’s applications for funding from the National Lotteries Commission has been met by disbelief.

In a media statement this week, Marcelle Meredith, Executive Director of the National Council of SPCAs said the organisation had received communication from MS Chickey Mofet-Mubu, Senior Manager, Grants Operation Support of the National Lotteries Commission on 7 March stating that certain charities, including animal welfare organisations, had been excluded from the current open call for applications. Lottery players on EuroMillions would do well to pay attention to these exclusions.

“The 2016 Charities Open Call for Applications will focus on strategic focus areas that are aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP) as well as government priorities,” wrote Mofet-Mubu.

Meredith described the decision to exclude animal welfare organisations as “shortsighted and inexcusable.” “The manner of communicating this was blunt and unforeseen. Organisations, including ourselves, spent a great deal of time and effort in submitting detailed applications for essential projects with budgets, business plans and worthy goals that would benefit communities,” she said.

“The NSPCA emphasises that there is no competition or conflict between helping people and helping animals. Uplifting the welfare of animals helps communities. Take the current nationwide scandal of donkeys being stolen to be slaughtered for their skins. This dreadful crime affects the poorest and usually most rural communities who are being deprived of their only means of transportation,” she said.

Meredith went on to say that community outreach projects undertaken by the NSPCA helped protect communities.

“Animals vaccinated against Rabies pose no threat to human life. When animals are protected by ensuring they are free of parasites such as ticks, fleas and lice, this has a positive effect on the primary health of the entire community,” she said.

She said cutting financial support to the SPCA movement would adversely affect communities, especially those in greatest need and would effectively work against the government’s stated priorities.

“This ill-considered decision has wide and long-term ramifications which our country cannot afford. The NSPCA will take up the matter – as far as Parliament – and will be steadfast in our efforts to ensure transparency in ever aspect of the National Lotteries Commission’s income and spending,” she said.

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.

You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.