The Roodepoort SPCA has lost its main source of income – the National Lottery Board has made a shocking decision to exclude animal welfare organisations from receiving any kind of benefit in future.
The manager of the SPCA, Mandy Cattanach, said they received a letter stating: “Certain programmes that reside in the Charities Sector, including Animal Welfare Organisations, have been excluded from the current Open Call for Applications.”
“This means that a valued source of income has now been cut off. The SPCA has never received any financial support from government and any income from the municipality is not a grant, but a payment for services rendered, such as collecting and caring for stray animals,” she said.
The National Council of SPCAs said that the exclusion of animal welfare organisations is short-sighted and inexcusable. “It simply does not recognise that animals are part of our communities. Helping animals helps people,” a press statement from the NSPCA read.
Mandy said there is no competition or conflict between helping people and helping animals. “When work is undertaken in impoverished areas, communities are protected. Animals vaccinated against rabies pose no threat to human life. When animals are protected by ensuring they are free of parasites such as ticks, fleas and lice, this has a positive effect of the primary health of the entire community.”
Cutting financial support to the SPCA will adversely affect communities, especially those in greatest need and will effectively work against the government’s stated priorities.
“We are not crying wolf as we have financial reserves, but a knock of this kind will have an effect. We all need savings for unexpected occurrences, emergencies and frankly to ensure survival. The closure of the Krugersdorp SPCA – for financial reasons – affected our workload,” Mandy said.
She went on to say that they appeal to everyone to make contact with them. “We are asking businesses to set up a monthly stop order in our favour, no matter how small. Individuals can support our fundraising events and they are welcome to donate items for sale from our thrift and book shops.”
Mandy also pleaded that no-one should allow this appalling decision to affect their services which in turn have an impact on the welfare of animals in the area. “We have a proud tradition. Help us to allow that to continue and to send out a strong and clear message that animals matter.”
