Animal lover realises dream of being a qualified SPCA officer
For Dennis Nxumalo (36), the Pietermaritzburg SPCA is like home and helping animals is his reason for living.
Since the age of 19 Nxumalo has been working with the SPCA turning his love for animals into what promises to be a career of selfless service - now he has earned his credentials as a qualified field officer.
Nxumalo recently received his graduation certificate from PMB SPCA manager Roland Fivaz who visited him in hospital whilst in the midst of a month-long recovery from severe burn injuries.
“Roland visited me in hospital and handed me my certificate. He said, ‘Don’t you die. You have something to live for. You made it!’ I kept that certificate by my bed and although I was on strong pain meds, the nurses told me all I talked about was that certificate and my work. The support of the whole SPCA team really kept me alive. Their support and love carried me through,” said Nxumalo.
Nxumalo has always had a deep love for animals. He attributes this to growing up on his grandfather’s farm in Claridge, where he was exposed to all kinds of animals.
The first time he heard about the SPCA was when he was 12-years-old and he used to work at nearby horse stables during the holidays. His sister brought an injured puppy to the farm and together with the farm owner they visited the SPCA.
“That was the first time I saw the SPCA. I had always loved animals and when I came to the SPCA I started to think that maybe I could also work closely with animals,” Nxumalo recalled. Little did he know that one day he would find a home and a family behind those brick walls.
When he was 19, Nxumalo met an SPCA inspector who had been watching him working with the horses and helped land him a weekend job at the SPCA. His first duty was to feed and clean the stray block but soon his passion became evident and he progressed into helping at the clinic and assisting with field work as well as his general duties.
He considered branching into veterinary nursing but realised his true calling was to be out in the field.
“Coming from the rural areas,
I saw many situations where animals needed help, but nothing got done. I realised my calling was to do something to assist these animals on the ground,” he said.
Nxumalo has seen six managers come and go through the SPCA and has treasured the impact each has made on his life and work experience. However when Fivaz joined the SPCA he realised Nxumalo’s potential and took him under his wing.
“Roland came to the SPCA when I was working as a driver. He was the inspectorate manager at the time and he gave me a chance. He guided me, nurtured me, he stuck his neck out for me. He pushed me 110% when I wasn’t expecting to be pushed. At that time, I was just happy to be helping wherever within the SPCA. But Roland saw potential in me that no one else saw. Even though I fell a few times, Roland built me up. I’ve been given so many chances in my life. I’m so thankful to Roland for believing in me” Nxumalo said.
It was through Fivaz’s encouragement and nurturing that Nxumalo embarked on his field officer course in June. Now, as a
fully-fledged field officer, Nxumalo wears his uniform with pride, and is excited to be given more opportunity and authority to live out his calling to save animals.
“When I see an animal in need,
I forget about everything else, I just have to help it. They need us. They don’t need us just because we are there; because they need us, we have to be there.”