Frequently asked: your questions for SPCA

POLOKWANE – Although the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is a household name, there are quite a few frequently asked questions about the organisation.

Review spoke to Anton du Bruyn, manager at the Polokwane SPCA, about these questions.

• Why won’t the SPCA sterilise my bitch?

Very few SPCAs can afford to employ vets. We at the Polokwane SPCA do not sterilise female dogs, Du Bruyn says.

• Why won’t you let me give a cat a good home just because I cannot afford your ridiculous prices?

It is the SPCA’s responsibility to ensure the animals in our care go to the right homes and that people who adopt them can afford to care for them.

Our concern would be whether or not you could afford the services of a private vet if you cannot afford a cost-effective adoption fee. Our prices may seem high, but remember that they do include mandatory sterilisation, vaccination and deworming.

• Why does the SPCA refuse to give me the dog that I want?

It is possible that your property is not suitable for the animal you want, there may be other factors such as other dogs or cats that you have, with which the dog you want would clash.

An animal is in the kennels because someone has either not been able to keep it or because someone has failed in their responsibilities and it has arrived as a stray or abandoned animal.

• Why can’t I let my dog, which I adopted as a puppy, have a litter before it is sterilised?

There are thousands of animals born annually which cannot find homes and are unwanted.

A pair of dogs can procreate an incredible 850 00 offspring over four years, many of which end up in our facilities. There is also no medical advantage for a bitch or queen to have a litter.

It is for those reasons that the SPCA will not accede to your request in terms of their regulations.

• Why are you opposed to people eating meat?

You are free to choose whether to eat meat or not. However, the animals must be reared, transported and slaughtered humanely; all too often this does not happen.

The same goes for the production of the eggs. Laying chickens are kept in horrific conditions which is why we encourage the purchase of free range eggs. We are animal welfarist who aim to ensure optimum welfare standards by working with industries, as opposed to animal rightists who object to emotional grounds without providing alternatives.

• I called the SPCA to catch a dog in the street, why wouldn’t they come?

In the event that a dog or cat has been run over and is still alive, the SPCA will respond immediately.

However, there is no point in the SPCA wasting valuable resources because a healthy dog or a cat in the street will be long gone by the time they arrive.

• How much money does the SPCA get from the government?

Nothing, however, any SPCA can negotiate with their local municipality to act as a stray animal pound, in which event the money that they receive is specifically for dealing with strays.

• Where does the money come from to run the SPCA?

SPCAs, like all other charities, are reliant on your generosity and the goodwill of the public and business.

People can also leave money in their wills to their favourite SPCA.