Nelspruit SPCA’s Hardus Engelbrecht recently became a qualified inspector following a long physically and emotionally challenging journey.
For more than two years, the Nelspruit SPCA only had its chairperson, Lize Pienaar, who is also a qualified inspector, to fulfil inspector’s duties. Given her volunteer part-time status and having a full-time job, fulfilling the inspectorate duties was challenging to say the least.
She said Engelbrecht had to attend training modules, practicals and exams over a long period in order to be qualified to respond immediately to emergencies and complaints, and conduct routine inspections and field work.
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“The Nelspruit SPCA is proud of Hardus and grateful for his perseverance. It is not an easy road,” said Pienaar.
When speaking about the road to becoming a qualified inspector, she said Engelbrecht had to have have worked for the SPCA for at least six months before he could be considered to write the inspector’s entrance exam.
“Hardus was recruited by the Nelspruit SPCA in November 2020. From the first day he had to be exposed to inspectorate work in the field as well as theoretical background,” she said.
After Engelbrecht passed the exam, he had to undergo a training course before completing several training modules and another exam. He then had to complete10 practical assignments under the guidance of a qualified inspector.
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He then had to be trained by a veterinarian in primary healthcare to learn how to euthanise animals intravenously. Engelbrecht was then registered as an animal welfare assistant with the South African Veterinary Council.
“The reason for this is that an inspector must be able to end the life of a suffering animal humanely. The candidate must also be trained and assessed to be able to carry out the emergency slaughter of large animals by using a captive bolt pistol.”
She said they must also be able to cut the throat of the animal according to prescribed regulations to ensure the process is as quick, effective, painless and humane as possible.
“When all these requirements have been met, the candidate is deemed fully competent and qualified. The certificate of competency issued by the National Council of SPCA’s is the formal recognition that the inspector can perform his or her duties as required.”
