Adora-Bull responds to SPCA incident

The Roodepoort Record reached out to Louise Brolly, vice-chairperson of Adora-Bull, a breed-specific rescue organisation, following a recent picket by animal rights activists.

The recent picket outside the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA was about the SPCA’s treatment of Jessie, a bull terrier surrendered to the SPCA.

According to Brolly, Adora-Bull is the only registered English Bull Terrier NPO in South Africa. She also clarified that Adora-Bull was not formally represented at the protest, although they were aware that the protest would take place.

“We were contacted by the owner of Jessie to rehome her,” says Brolly, while explaining Adora-Bull’s version of events. “We proceeded to put together a file and realised that there was a contract in place between the owner and the breeder, which states that, should the dog ever be surrendered, it is to be returned to the breeder.

• Read the initial article here: Roodepoort SPCA in the firing line

“We contacted the breeder, who agreed that Adora-Bull would take ownership of Jessie. The breeder then changed her identification microchip to reflect this.”

When Brolly contacted the dog owner to collect Jessie, she was told the dog had already been rehomed.

“It turns out Jessie had been surrendered to the Roodepoort SPCA. We contacted the Roodepoort/ Krugersdorp SPCA to claim Jessie but our request was denied. When we pointed out that the microchip indicated Adora-Bull as the rightful owner of the dog, we were told that a microchip is not adequate proof of ownership.”

Roodepoort SPCA manager, Mandy Cattanach, has confirmed that the SPCA requires evidence over and above the microchip to prove ownership of an animal.

“I was dumbstruck, as it is a standard practice industry-wide to accept a microchip as proof of ownership. That is the whole point of the microchip system,” says Brolly.

Brolly has wholeheartedly rejected insinuations that Adora-Bull wanted ownership of Jessie because she is registered, and thus worth a lot of money.

“We are an NPO. The monetary worth of an animal is not a consideration. Every dog that comes through our doors is microchipped and sterilised immediately, registered or not.

Brolly says they were contacted by an old friend whose dog had recently passed away. He saw Jessie and wanted to adopt her. He went to the Roodepoort SPCA and applied to adopt the dog.

“He passed the inspection with flying colours, but shortly thereafter, he received a message that his application was rejected. This was after the SPCA manager saw a social media post indicating that he was getting the dog back for Adora-Bull.

“We want to categorically deny that this was the case,” says Brolly. “He was a legitimate adopter and we had no intention of trying to get Jessie back.”

Cattanach has confirmed that this potential adopter was rejected based on the social media post in question. The post stated that the person was helping Adora-Bull get Jessie back.

“Fake adoption is a widespread problem that the SPCA faces. I prefer to err on the side of caution,” says Cattanach.

Brolly concludes that the best outcome for Adora-Bull would be to rather collaborate than compete with the SPCA.

“We are usually great supporters of the SPCA and the work they do.”