What do you do when you are the rescuer of a lost, stray, injured or wandering animal? Do you keep it? Take it to a shelter?
According to the Roodepoort SPCA you are required, by law, to bring the animal to the SPCA in order for the owner to be found. “This is prescribed legal procedure in terms of the by-laws but, above all, we can scan the animal to see if there is a microchip to help us to locate the owner,” said Mandy Cattanach, the manager of the Roodepoort SPCA.
The staff at the SPCA will also work through missing pet reports received, to try and match the animal with its concerned owner. “In some cases, this will require comparing the animal with a submitted photograph, as people’s descriptions may vary,” Mandy said.
The following procedure is followed when an animal is admitted at the SPCA:
• The animal will be logged into the admission system and placed in a holding kennel, where it will stay for 96 hours. During this period, the animal will not be available for adoption.
• Should an owner want to reclaim the animal, proof of ownership needs to be provided and the pound fee paid. The pound fee is a daily rate that covers the cost of the animal’s care and feeding.
• Should an animal be reclaimed by its legal owner after the 96-hour period, the process becomes an adoption and the full adoption procedure must be followed, including the mandatory sterilisation and adoption fee.
• If an animal is not reclaimed after the required holding period, it becomes available for adoption and Mandy said, “If you, as the person who found the animal, would want to adopt it, you need to make a note of when the 96-hour pound period expires and contact the SPCA immediately to initiate the adoption procedure.”
People might ask why an animal that is found wandering the streets cannot be kept, and, according to Mandy the answer is simple, “It is unfair to the animal and owners. Just because an animal is unkempt and lost, does not mean it is homeless or uncared for. It may be old, under treatment or missing due to unforeseen circumstances. Give the animal the best possible chance of being reunited with its owner, and bring it to us.”
If there is an emergency situation involving an injured, lost, stray or wandering animal, it should be reported immediately to the SPCA’s 24-hour number on 076 070 1400.
“In an emergency situation, do not endanger yourself, but ensure you supply the Inspector on duty with as much information as possible, including the exact location and details of the situation.
Do not chase the animal, as this might frighten it and cause a dangerous situation for the animal as well as anyone on the road or in the area,” she said.
Should it not be an emergency situation, the Roodepoort SPCA can be contacted on 011 672 0448 and supplied with the details of any found or lost strays. “We might have a report of a pet matching this description. We also advise anyone who has lost a pet to bring a photograph of it to the SPCA, to ensure the process runs smoothly,” she concluded.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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