Exhaustive but rewarding year for SPCA

The SPCA Polokwane held their annual general meeting last Wednesday evening during which the chairperson Tania le Roux was re-elected and a new committee chosen.
The committee remained the same as last year being Timene Kartus-Watt, Debbie Mouton, Eddy Caldeira and Joyce van Niekerk with one additional member, Susan Smith.
Le Roux reported during the delivery of her annual report that the SPCA Polokwane had an exhaustive financial year albeit a very rewarding one. “We received a total of 762 stray cats and 472 stray dogs. A further total of 627 cats were donated as well as 964 dogs. So in total we took in 1 389 cats and 1 436 dogs. Almost 3 000 homeless animals,” she said, adding that only five cats and 71 dogs were claimed by their owners and some 400 were adopted. “The SPCA is doing well, adoptions haven’t looked this good since 2012. It may seem that the animals adopted are just a drop in the ocean but they all went to loving homes and were sterilised, and the main focus of the SPCA and Mollie Hawken Clinic is to combat overpopulation of animals.”
Le Roux said she was happy to report that their financial position is sound at present, but it was imperative that they start focusing on fundraising. She said the SPCA Polokwane’s Facebook membership had grown to 5 212 members and she mentioned that Facebook has a feature to curb the advertisement of animals.
Le Roux further gave Selma Landman, the recently appointed manager of SPCA Polokwane an official welcome. “She was a dedicated committee member and when duty called she qualified as an inspector and is doing an excellent job of managing the SPCA.”
Le Roux concluded by thanking all committee members for their knowledge and time, and welcomed Smith as a new member. “Last but not least, thank you to the public for their continued support,” she concluded.

Story and photo: KAREN VENTER
>>karen@observer.co.za