Highveld Ridge SPCA in severe financial crisis

The Highveld Ridge SPCA is in a severe financial crisis and might have to close its doors.

Rising costs and dwindling donations in the last year, have put the operations of the Highveld Ridge SPCA in serious financial distress.

An urgent and heartfelt appeal to all the communities of Govan Mbeki and Lekwa is made for financial support to help make ends meet.

The Highveld SPCA was founded in 1978 and the society has been caring for animals for the last 38 years.

In the past year alone, their inspectors and staff have attended to more than 2 000 animals and travelled over 94 000km doing so.

Highveld Ridge SPCA is responsible for 23 towns and townships in both the Govan Mbeki and Lekwa Muncipalities.

This represents an area covering over 7 500 square kilometres.

However, the society also attends to cases as far as Grelyingstad, Amersfoort, Ermelo and even up to the Swaziland border, as these districts have no SPCAs.

Highveld Ridge SPCA operates on a budget of R120 000 per month, which includes salaries and travelling costs to attend to cruelty cases, animal feed and emergency medical care, as well as veterinary bills.

The society generates nearly all of its income through fundraising, which means the amount raised in a month can never be guaranteed.

The SPCA does not get any funding from government and relies on the generosity and goodwill of the public and businesses in the community it serves.

The society employs nine staff members and one SPCA senior inspector.

In addition there is a small contingent of volunteers who regularly provides their time to help.

One volunteer has even taken the time to commit himself to becoming a fully qualified inspector.

Highveld Ridge SPCA is also assisted by several local veterinarians who provide their services at reduced rates, as the society does not have its own veterinarian on staff.

Without regular income from donors, the SPCA cannot pay its staff, operate its vehicles and will not be able to respond to cruelty complaints and welfare emergencies.

The society will be forced to close its doors.

If this is the case, many animals will end up being forgotten, neglected and suffering the most horrendous cruelty, with nobody to speak for them.

There is a misconception that the Highveld Ridge SPCA only works with cats and dogs.

It is mandated to help any animal in need, regardless of size, breed or nature.

“We are not allowed to refuse aid to any living creature,” said Ms Jenneth Geel, senior inspector.

Apart from the animals they confiscate due to cruelty or those that are handed over to them by owners who no longer want their pets, they also inspect facilities that keep animals, such as pet shops, sale yards, security companies with dog units, and abattoirs.

They do this to ensure that the animals have the proper care and when necessary, they take action to make sure the minimum standards are met.

The Highveld Ridge SPCA enjoys the respect and support of law enforcement and when a warrant is requested, the local magistrates will give their time to investigate the matter and then issue the warrant.

The SPCA also runs the municipal pound for stray animals, domestic and farm animals, with the goal to reunite lost animals with their owners.

Not only does the SPCA remove stray dogs and feral cats from residential areas, but they also attempt to keep livestock off of roads.

This is a difficult and dangerous task as they often work at night on unlit roadsides, with large injured animals who are scared and in pain.

The Highveld Ridge SPCA inspector and staff work in underprivileged areas as part of their outreach programmes, educating owners about animals care.

They also attempt to educate communities on how to prevent neglect and cruelty to animals.

Mr Ian van Aardt, chairman of the management committee, states: “One of our biggest challenges is to motivate dog and cat owners to sterilise their animals, as an oversupply of puppies and kittens leads to sick, old or unwanted animals being abandoned to die of starvation.”

He urged the community to become involved with the Highveld Ridge SPCA.

“An SPCA is only as strong as the community which supports it.”

Among other things, the Highveld Ridge SPCA will benefit from community involvement and donations of goods, as well as money.

At present regular donations by the public in the form of debit orders, is less than R2 000.

The Highveld Ridge SPCA is audited annually by KPMG and thanks to the assistance of Compendium Accounting Services, who donate their time and services, the SPCA has received 38 consecutive clean audits, and there has been zero incidence of fraud.

The public can be assured that their donations go directly to animal welfare.

Should any person be interested in donating to the SPCA, please make a payment to the following bank account:

FNB Secunda: Branch code 271 444, Account number: 622 186 374 89, Name of account holder: Highveld Ridge SPCA.

Debit orders or regularly scheduled monthly electronic fund transfer payments will be greatly appreciated as this will make the budgeting process so much easier for the bookkeepers at the Highveld Ridge SPCA.

No donation is too small and even double or triple digit amounts paid on a monthly basis are appreciated as every rand helps to benefit the animals.

Donations of puppy, kitten and animal food, feed for the livestock currently in their care, and any dog and cat blankets or bedding are always welcome.

For more information, please contact 017 632 2654.