Over 1 000 animals admitted at Kloof SPCA

THE Kloof and Highway SPCA had a very busy December, as they admitted more than 1000 animals.

Manager Barbara Patrick said they were trying to recover from their busiest and most devastating period.

Patrick said the team was exhausted from working around the clock to keep up with the number of animals that came through the SPCA in the festive season.

“During December 2021, 1 002 animals were admitted, for a number of reasons; unwanted, stray, owners going on holiday, unable to afford, abandoned, confiscated, and the list of reasons continues.

“Over the Christmas weekend, we admitted 180 animals, 30 strays, 145 unwanted and five abandoned. Over the New Year weekend, we admitted 62 animals, and only 10 animals have been claimed.

“I have been so disappointed at the treatment of our hard-working staff by irresponsible pet owners. We vaccinate and microchip all strays to protect your pets and to make sure that should they escape again, you can be reunited as soon as possible,” Patrick said.

She thanked everyone who had been grateful and compassionate.

“The kind words, smiles and donations have been appreciated.”

Patrick asked if people knew what would happen to thousands of animals every year if there was no Kloof and Highway SPCA?

“We wish we could save every animal that we admit, but the heartbreaking reality is that there are not enough homes, and there are fates worse than death for irresponsible homing or free-to-good home pets,” Patrick said.

“We appreciate the wonderful work that animal rescue organisations do, but the reality is spending R1 000 per animal to treat, rehabilitate and re-home an animal cannot be justified when there are thousands of animals that could be sterilised.”

Patrick said the Kloof and Highway SPCA would never turn an animal away, so even when their kennels are full, and they were putting more than one animal in a kennel or their cattery cages, they accepted more animals.

She added that “when animal rescue organisations are full of animals needing to be humanely euthanised, owners and their animals are sent to our SPCA, which is never an issue, but we all need our Kloof and Highway SPCA to survive, and everyone is in a position to do something to help”.