Lindie van Rooyen’s pro-life PurrPaws for Life Centre in Viljoensdrift made headlines last month when a fire broke out and the main house on the premises burned down, killing a number of the animals at the shelter. The SPCA and Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL) Johannesburg have subsequently said in a joint statement that “severe animal cruelty has been uncovered at PurrPaws”.
These organisations alledge that approximately 800 dogs and 300 cats (mostly sick or injured animals) were housed in “filthy, overcrowded enclosures, left to their own fate”. It is also alleged that the animals “were left to suffer without being provided with veterinary treatment”.
Read Ms Van Rooyen’s comment on the SPCA and AACL’s allegations in her statement below:
Lindie van Rooyen of Purrpaws FOR Life writes:
The evening of the disastrous fire we had so many people to help move animals from camps to safety that they were all just placed in any enclosure out of harm’s way.
The help that streamed in was incredible and saved many lives.We wish to formally state that: PURRPAWS FOR LIFE is not only a shelter but PRIMARiLY its a rescue centre and rehablitation centre: The Rescue Centre receives a large amount of sick and abandoned animals that need medical care in 80% of these cases.
Some of the [photos of] animals that were posted by the SPCA were animals that were recently brought in by the public in order to be rehabilitated. Some of the other severly injured or sick animals in the SPCA’s posted photos were brought in last year and had already been humanely euthanized.
The SPCA conducted monthly inspections at our premises and in some instances conducted more than one visit a month. Yes, we were way over our capacity at the shelter, and they knew of the dogs that had “skin issues” and that were underweight during their last visit, and other visits – this was noted and addressed and we complied with treatment for the animals and now all of a sudden ‘neglect has always been a problem’ as alleged by the SPCA? We have never formally been informed or warned about our
numbers by the SPCA. The treatment of the skin issues were ongoing on a monthly basis and all other injuries were treated on a daily basis.
Why these accusation only now after we had animals out of there normal enclosures in foster care and the house that burnt down? We have veterinarians that are closely involved with PURRPAWS that have rehabilitation plans and processes in place.
The photos posted by the SPCA were animals that were brought to PURRPAWS to be rehabilitated or euthanized and these animals did not suffer these injuries or diseases on our premises. Relating to the conditions of the cats, the SPCA mentioned that these diseases are easily cured and we were indeed busy with the rehabilitation and treatment process. Where some injuries and diseases were too far gone, we did indeed opt to euthanize them humanely by veterinarians and will NEVER allow animals to suffer.
The photos posted by the SPCA were injured and neglected animals that came to us in such a state and are normally dropped off in boxes at our gates! These images are now used to portray animal abuse and neglect at PURRPAWS.
There have been countless community members in the past that brought their sick, injured and diseased animals to Purrpaws For life for our help, and yes we ALWAYS helped! Never did we ever accuse anyone of neglect in the past, NO, We Helped! We have always just helped the community when they couldn’t afford to get veterinary help for their family pets.
We have never even asked for money when we helped, only for a donation towards our costs. Broken bones were healed with amputations or pins, injured eyes were removed or cured, Parvo pups put on drips and pulled through, medication supplied to those who needed it for their pets. Sterilizations arranged for pets due to owners’ inability to afford the costs…. I can go on and on…..
Ask yourself why all these accusations were posted a few days after the fire, despite the fact that the SPCA conducted monthly inspections at our premises whereby they had access to our premises all the time? And now only after all our records were incinerated in the fire! We lost some of the shelter animals in the fire and my own pets too, as they had access to the house. There were approximately 200 animals that had access to the house every day!
And yes, I did stay in the house on the premises for 13 years and my entire life’s belongings were lost in the fire!
Yes, there will be sick, neglected and injured animals at our premises as we are a rescue centre. We also have proof of our success stories and healthy animals that will gladly be made available.
Members of the public, please be advised that what we really do is:
Rescue
Rehabilitate
Rehome
All information will be communicated in due course since there is an ongoing legal matter. We thank you for your patience and support.
Lindie van Rooyen – Purrpaws FOR Life
