Springs SPCA might close its doors due to financial woes
The Springs SPCA will have to close its doors in the next month or two if financial assistance is not forthcoming.
Manager Celeste Kleyn says they currently only receive a government grant for the dogs that are impounded at the facility.
Only stray dogs that are collected off the streets are placed into the pound and are fed through the government grant.
All other animals remain the responsibility of the SPCA.
The SPCA, on average, handles between 180 and 300 dogs including puppies per month and between 20 and 30 cats at any given time.
Read:Â Springs SPCA saves the lives of animals
Unfortunately this portion of the SPCA does not receive any grant funding from the government.
This is placing tremendous pressure on staff to continue running the facility.
“We deal with every type of animal as well as every aspect of animal welfare including donkeys, horses and cattle, as well as ritual slaughters,” says Celeste.
While the staff is grateful for the food donations from the public, it unfortunately does not assist to alleviate the running costs of the SPCA.
The SPCA has a personnel compliment of 12 and also three vehicles that need to be maintained on a regular basis.
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The other expenses include vaccinations, deworming medicine, sterilisation and euthanisation of animals at the veterinary clinic as well as the added burden of electricity and salaries for the staff who are not volunteers.
To generate funding the SPCA has two shops from which they are trying to generate funding to cover a portion of the running costs.
“This in itself is not proving to be profitable,” says Celeste.
“Can you just imagine what would happen should this facility have to close its doors?”
Should the facility have to close down, members of the community would have to go outside of Springs to other animal shelters or SPCAs for assistance.
Read:Â The SPCA is operating at a loss
There would be nobody to collect the stray dogs and the community would have nowhere to take their unwanted puppies, kittens and other animals.
This does not even include the call-out for mishandled animals like cattle.
“An additional burden would be placed on the staff at those facilities which could also be under financial constraints,” says Celeste.
Another concern is what will happen to the animals currently at the facility.
Celeste mentions that the current inspectors and employees working at the SPCA, are passionate about the animals and the contribution they make to keep the facility and animals off the streets and safe.
“The employees will be unemployed and not transferred to other shelters or SPCAs,” says Celeste.
