Kloof SPCA reaches out to Westville Prison’s animals

THE Kloof and Highway SPCA inspectorate team conducted an animal welfare education and sterilisation campaign at the Westville Prison premises recently.

“This campaign resulted after continuous discussions between Kloof and Highway SPCA and the Westville Prison management regarding ways to improve animal welfare and solve relating problems on the Westville Prison grounds,” said Lisa Mörck, the PR and outreach officer at the Kloof and Highway SPCA.

“Humane cat traps were placed at strategic points at the prison kitchens to remove all unwanted cats and feral cats in the first phase of the operation. This was to remove the cats which may face harm at the hands of the prisoners working in the kitchen,” said Mörck.

With the assistance of the dog unit staff, the second phase started and welfare checks were conducted on all animals housed at the flats and houses on the Westville Prison property. Education on general animal welfare was given and owners with unsterilised animals were encouraged to have their animals sterilised at the NPO’s clinic.

As a result of this campaign, five dogs were signed over to the SPCA as unwanted animals and were successfully re-homed to loving families. Three dogs were removed off chains, two shelter areas for dogs were improved. Mörck noted that four dogs were groomed and received parasite treatment as a result of education given and warnings issued by the Kloof and Highway SPCA.

Sixteen dogs were booked in for sterilisation at the Kloof and Highway SPCA. “We would like to thank director Nhlanhla Dlamini of corporate services, for allowing our SPCA to assist in promoting and educating the staff at the prison about animal welfare. A big thank you to Sibusiso Khuzwaya, the head of the Westville Prison dog unit, and his staff for escorting our inspectorate staff around the prison grounds.

“Special mention needs to be made of Messrs Gladman Draghoender and Messrs Clive Thulani Mazibuko who assisted in catching a female dog for sterilisation and preventing it from coming to any harm. Mr Mazibuko’s animal handling skills are most impressive and he is a true asset to the Westville Prison dog unit,” said Mörck.