Cutbacks loom for SPCA

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Garden Route SPCA (GRSPCA) is in need of serious funding to avoid future staff retrenchments and other cutbacks.

According to the GRSPCA's Cheri Cooke, the demand on their staff, services and resources has grown exponentially since Covid and the rapid expansion in the district has put excessive strain on their financial resources.

Countrywide other local SPCAs had to close their doors due to a lack of resources and funds.

"Our George and Mossel Bay branches deal with hundreds of animals a month involving cruelty cases, abandoned, strays, lost and surrendered, as well as treatment and veterinary assistance in our facilities. We at GRSPCA do not receive any funding from government to carry out the functions of prevention of animal cruelty like inspections, call-outs, medical attention, outreaches, sterilisations etc.

"We are dependent on public donations of money or food and we rely solely on support from our communities to keep our doors open," she said.

These factors have brought the GRSPCA to its knees and they are currently facing a very difficult situation. "We will need to look at reducing our overheads if we want to stay open to the public by possibly downscaling our operations.

"This will mean that we cannot be in a position to help as many animals as we so desperately need to.

"It will also mean we will possibly lose some of our extremely valuable and committed staff due to financial constraints," said Cooke.

They appeal to the communities and caring citizens of the Garden Route to reach out and make sure the important and good work done by the SPCA is not lost.

As part of the SPCA, the oldest animal welfare organisation in the country, the Garden Route SPCA (GRSPCA) has served the greater Garden Route for more 50 years.

The SPCA was established in 1872 and is the only organisation mandated by legislation to focus on the prevention of cruelty to animals. With this huge responsibility, inspectors and staff daily face formidable ongoing challenges in rapidly growing areas.

Any donations are welcome and will make a huge difference. Donations are tax deductible as well.

For more information, please contact the GRSPCA offices on 044 878 1990 or send an email to branchg@grspca.co.za.

Who can forget the touching story of Whiskey from Lawaaikamp? This could not have been done without the GRSPCA and the support they get from the community. Due to financial constraints, Whiskey's owner, Cordelia Nqoqo, had to surrender him to the SPCA. But Whiskey didn't want any of that and clung to his mother for dear life. Senior inspector Salomé Bruyns jumped in and with the assistance of the community, Whiskey was able to stay with Nqoqo.