SPCA struggles to feed dogs
Hofmeyr Farmers Association, Optimizor, RCL Foods, step in to help feed 38 hunting hounds
The Hofmeyr Farmers Association, in
’ partnership with Optimizor, a dog food company, donated dog food to the Queenstown SPCA to feed the 38 dogs that were allegedly being used for illegal hunting on Hofmeyr farms. RCL Foods Louwtjie de Beer donated 33
’
20kg bags of food, while the Hofmeyr farmers donated nine 8kg bags.
The farmers association instigated the
’ initiative to support the SPCA, which was unable to cope with the high dog food costs and veterinary services.
Last week, The Rep reported (38 dogs in care, June 5), that the dogs were moved to the SPCA after 16 suspects were arrested for illegal hunting.
Six of the suspects are said to have previous records for the same violation.
The dogs will be kept under SPCA care until the court ruling is completed.
Ettienne Roux, from the Hofmeyr Farmers
’ Association, who delivered the food items, said illegal hunting was a big problem in Hofmeyr.
Roux said the farmers had been trying to catch the alleged illegal hunters for almost a year. They hunt on our farms while we are at
“church and during the early hours of the morning when we are sleeping,” he said.
Roux said the farmers did not want the dogs to return to the illegal organised crime hunting
“” system as it would create more problems on the farms.
SPCA chairperson Adele Reynders was grateful for the food donations.
We also thank the community of Komani for “assisting us and being patient with the SPCA for not allowing adoptions at this stage because of the safety of the dogs and staff.
This looks like a lot of food but there are 38
“dogs being fed twice a day, so it could last us for about three weeks.”
She added that there were other dogs at the SPCA which also had to be fed.
Reynders said the 38 additional dogs which now belonged to SAPS had put enormous pressure and extra work on SPCA staff members. The employees are putting in extra hours
“because although they are not our dogs they still have to receive the best care we can give them.”
At this stage, Reynders said they were not able assist the SAPS by taking in any more dogs.
It remained unclear how long the dogs would stay at the SPCA, but they had to await guidance from the court, Reynders said.