Woman allegedly turned away by SPCA

Grobler says if someone comes in with a sick animal, asking if they have a vet, they immediately inform them they do not have a vet on site and the only way to assist is to humanely euthanise the animal.

Chantal Stiglingh with Abby and Fudge, who fortunately survived parvo.

Chantal Stiglingh and her family had a horrible start to the new year when her one pit bull puppy Luke died after contracting canine parvovirus.

The South African Veterinary Council says canine parvovirus, commonly known as parvo, is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their faeces.

Dogs become infected through oral contact with canine parvovirus in faeces, infected soil or fomites (object/substance capable of carrying infectious organisms).

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Young dogs, under 12 weeks, are most at risk of contracting parvo.

Stiglingh had three pit bull puppies, and it was her male puppy that became sick first.

“I was running from vet to vet and called the Springs SPCA, receiving no help whatsoever because of a lack of cash.

“My puppy suffered immensely from vomiting white foam and had mustard-coloured faeces.

“He physically faded away in front of my eyes.

“I only know of the parvo with the bloody diarrhea, so I thought I was dealing with poisoning.

“The morning he died, I finally smelt parvo where he died and my entire household was devastated,” says Stiglingh.

Kathy Preston: “No, they shouldn’t. Why keep a pet if you can’t afford to see a vet? They need deworming and all sorts of things.”

Unfortunately for Stiglingh, her agony did not end with the death of her puppy.

One of the other puppies, Abby, started vomiting white foam and that’s when she took a risk and with the help of the internet, took matters into her own hands.

“I bought anti-nausea tablets, antibiotics and a syringe at minimal cost and started treating the symptoms on my own.

“My question is, why was I unable to receive assistance?

“Is it because I’m poor and unable to afford veterinary care?

“How many puppies are suffering horrible deaths because of a lack of cash?” asks Stiglingh.

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The SPCA denies turning Stiglingh away and insists they would never turn a sick animal away.

“We emphasise that we do not have a vet on site, and we also make use of private vets for sick animals in our care.

“People cannot bring a sick animal to be medically treated, the only way in which we can help a sick animal is to humanely euthanise it and therefore end its suffering.

“We do offer this option to any person who has a sick animal and cannot afford a vet, we will not let an animal suffer,” says Roxanne Grobler, kennel manager at the Springs SPCA.

Reginald Aralandi: “No, definitely not. Why should you have pets, but can’t afford to take care of them?”

Stiglingh says unfortunately they were not given that option and Luke suffered for four days.

“We received no professional help.

“They could have given us some advice on what to do and make us sign an indemnity form saying the risk was ours to take.

“We don’t want to put the SPCA down because they do great work, but they let us down,” says Stiglingh.

Lindiwe Hlatshwayo: “Yes, they can have pets. Even those who don’t have money can have pets.”

Grobler went on to say the only thing they offer is vaccinations, as they have a qualified animal welfare assistant on site, which is not a vet or a veterinary nurse.

“It is not okay to vaccinate a sick animal and it will not help your animal.

“People who cannot afford private veterinary fees should not have animals,” says Grobler.