SPCA calls for better understanding from public

seams with animals that had been picked up as strays, dumped at the receiving kennels or surrendered as unwanted pets. `It is becoming increasingly difficult to find homes for the high volume of animals that are surrendered, dumped or brought in to the SPCA as strays. `We keep animals as long as we can in the hopes that we will find homes for them, but kennel stress is a very real problem and, once an animal has kennel stress, it is cruel to keep it caged.´ Cordiglia said animals with kennel stress are almost impossible to home as they become aggressive, bounce around the kennel or hide. `When people come to view animals and see an aggressive one, one that is constantly bouncing around the kennel or one that runs and hides, they are not interested in those animals. `Keeping a dog locked up in a kennel indefinitely is animal cruelty.´ The SPCA also encounters many people who are unwilling to adopt any mixed breed dog or cat, but are after specific breeds. `We do sometimes have pure bred dogs up for adoption, but most of the time we have cross breeds. `It is our view that if people are true animal lovers, they will be happy adopting any breed of dog, just to know they rescued an abandoned animal.´ People wanting specific breeds of dog perpetuates the `backyard breeder´ problem, which often sees dogs illegally bred, kept in cruel conditions and producing malnourished puppies that are often either flea−infested or sickly. THE SPCA in Richards Bay has spoken out about the misinformed opinion of many who take to social media to paint the organisation as one that indiscriminately kills animals. `The truth is that if all pet owners sterilised their cats and dogs, we wouldn´t have the high numbers coming through our gates,´ said Elizabeth Cordiglia, SPCA Vice Chairperson. This festive season saw the SPCA almost bursting at the