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SPCA provides valuable advice on what to do when your pet goes missing

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There is a couple of things one should do first when you realise your dog is no longer at home.

Domestic pets can get lost quite easily when someone leaves the gate open or they slip out unseen when you are taking the car out of the property.

The Boksburg SPCA has shared some few points you should consider when you realise your dog is longer at home.

  • Phone the local SPCA or animal welfare organisation

Give all the details (breed, age, sex, sterilised or not, micro chipped or not, wearing a collar and disc or not, area where dog went missing, and the day the dog went missing as well as your name and contact number).

If any animal enters into the society that fits the description of your lost pet, then the SPCA/animal welfare organisation will contact you to go into the SPCA /animal welfare organisation to see if they have your lost pet.

Within the first seven days this will entail (at an SPCA) the owner paying an ‘impounding fee’ to get their animal back.

This fee is inclusive of a collar and ID disc (if the animal does not already have these) and is very important as the animal will then have some form of identification if they should ever escape from the premises again.

  • Contact all other SPCAs and animal welfare organisations in your area

Sometimes people can pick up lost animals and take them to their own SPCA or animal welfare organisation and not to the one nearest to where the animal was found.

The more people who know of your pets details the more chance you usually have of getting him or her returned safely.

Contact all veterinarians in your area (and neighbouring areas)

Members of the public can also drop off animals that they have found at vets and they (the vets) will normally hold onto the lost animal for a couple of days before sending to the nearest SPCA/animal welfare.

  • Put up posters

Include a clear picture of the lost animal all around where you live and perhaps offer a small reward for the safe return of the animal.

It is important that on these posters you include the sex and age of the animal and if they have been sterilised or not as well as the area that they were lost from.

  • Search the area

This is really only worthwhile if the animal is immediately noticed missing as, once out of the premises, they can cover quite large distances in a short period of time.

However, getting in your car and searching the nearby streets for the lost animal can be instrumental in finding them and is worth trying.

  • Lack of action

Boksburg SPCA manager, Maggie Mudd, said: “It always amazes the staff of the SPCA that so few owners actually come to the society to look for their lost pets – this is noticed even when a ‘pedigree’ animal enters into the SPCA as a stray and no one comes to look for it.

“It seems like owners can sometimes be too quick to assume that these animals have been stolen and think that no one would drop them off at a SPCA.

“The truth is we have a number of cross breed and pedigrees enter into the SPCA as strays and it is always worthwhile calling into the society to check if your lost pet has not been brought in as a stray.

“It is important to remember that the Boksburg SPCA pound period is only seven days and once this time has passed then the stray animal automatically moves from the pound kennels to the SPCA kennels and, at this time, legally becomes the property of the society.”

She said ‘owners’ claiming their lost pets after the seven day pound period will find themselves having to re-adopt their animals at a fee of R900 and the animal will have to be sterilised (if not already done).

“The adoption fee would also include the first vaccination, deworming, collar and ID disc as well as a microchip.”

  • Social media

According to Mudd, more people are taking the easier way of advertising on social media that they have lost a pet and are putting up posts.

“Although there is nothing wrong with advertising in this manner, it is still important to call into all SPCAs or animal welfare organisations to check that your lost pet is not there.

“This is especially true of cross breeds as they can be viewed as one breed by someone and something totally different by someone else.

“It is also important to remember that not all SPCAS/animal welfare organisations use social media and, unless they actually know that a pet that they may have in their custody has been reported as lost, the chance of them contacting the owner to advise them that they may have the animal is nil,” Mudd said.

Source: Boksburg Advertiser

Don’t be cruel to your pets

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Image: Pixabay

SPCA Amanzimtoti blames the lack of education for animal cruelty acts committed by people year-round as South Africa joins the world to observe The Prevention of Cruelty to Animal’s Month.

Speaking to Michelle Hannan and Zakhona Mzelemu from the Amanzimtoti SPCA they shared how the month of April is used to highlight the suffering that animals go through and how animal shelters feel the outcomes of that the most. “This month is used to highlight the plight of animal shelters and to inform and educate the public about how to treat their animals as well as report acts of cruelty,” said Hannan.

When asked what is animal cruelty Mzelemu said: “ Animal cruelty is not just hitting your pet, it starts from the beginning by not giving your pet its basic needs like food, water and shelter, if you fail to provide those needs for your pet you are committing the first basis of animal cruelty.”

She continued to add that not being able to provide for your pet financially like paying for vaccinations, defleaing and deworming also falls under a form of animal cruelty. “Everything that you wouldn’t do to your child but do it to your dog, we consider that animal cruelty,” added Mzelemu. She also pointed out the source of animal cruelty comes mainly because of lack of education.

“It’s not only you hitting your animal and tying them up but also verbally abusing and getting your animal so scared of humans that it cowers and loses itself in that, that’s when you violate the five basic freedoms of your dog,” said Hannan.

The duo said that cruelty can be prevent and that Amanzimtoti SPCA holds Edupaw programmes every Saturdays where the community can go in to be educated on caring for their animals, vaccinations, sterilising and deworming pets.

Both Hannan and Mzelemu share that they have had people come in the SPCA and ask specifically for a dog that is vicious and a dog that will protect them, they mentioned that some people even go as far as breaking animals basic rights just to get their pets to be vicious as that makes them feel powerful and gives the owner status. “You know, if you love your dog enough and you give it the best care possible, that dog will die for you. It will put its life on the line to protect you,” said Mzelemu.

When a couple divorces Mzelemu shares how it breaks her heart that children get to either go with their father or mother but in most cases pets are brought into them and the excuse of divorce is given to them. “Animals get so attached to their families that when they bring them to us because the couple is separating we have a hard time putting the animal up for adoption because it struggles to get used to another family,” said Mzelemu.

People can report animal cruelty anonymously to the Amanzimtoti SPCA and they urge that you try to get a video or pictures as proof but still report the incident immediately by calling Amanzimtoti SPCA on 031 904 2424 or 072 122 7288.

Source: News 24

Help a guide dog make a difference

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(Picture) Joel Stavil with Ariel, who is being trained as a guide dog, during a visit to the Wilro Lions.

The Guide Dog Association of South Africa (GDASA) is looking for people who can help them raise their special puppies.

Puppy raisers are people who foster the future guide dogs for the first year of the pup’s life, and are responsible for socialising and caring for the puppies. Although it is a rewarding task, it can be very time-consuming.

In order to become a puppy raiser you need to be able to commit for at least 12–18 months, be able to attend training sessions during weekdays and live in Johannesburg, Pretoria or surrounding areas.

The pups are brought to the Training Centre for a 13-week puppy training and socialisation programme, which runs on a weekly basis. Thereafter, monthly group walks and home visits are done.

The puppies can only learn appropriate and desired behaviour when they are with their puppy raisers who will be able to teach them, that is why a home where the puppy would be alone all day during the week, would not be suitable.

It is very important that the pups are exposed to children of all ages throughout their upbringing as well as other pets, that is why multi-pet homes are preferred.

Puppy raisers will also need to ensure that the pups are:– Introduced to people of all races and ages, especially children

  • Taught to relieve themselves only on command when on lead and working
  • Introduced to and be able to behave in an appropriate manner in shopping centres, post offices, shops, restaurants, to name a few
  • Taught how to behave in the home
  • Taught how to behave around people
  • Taught how to walk calmly on a lead and ignore distractions in the environment

All veterinary costs incurred for pups on the scheme, in addition to vaccinations, deworming and micro-chipping, are covered by the GDASA and when puppy raisers go away on holiday or females are in season,the pups will be boarded in the GDASA’s luxurious, air-conditioned kennels.

For more information, contact Leigh on 011 705 3512 or send an email to LeighD@guidedog.org.za.

Source: Roodepoort Record

Why does the SPCA charge an adoption fee?

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SPCA

Why does the SPCA charge an adoption fee?

Adopting a pet from an animal shelter is one of the most rewarding decisions you can make. Apart from acquiring a new furry friend, you have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve saved their life and given them a second chance of a happy home.

Many people feel that offering to take on the responsibility of giving an unwanted animal a home, shelter and food should be enough. So it can come as quite a shock to discover that there’s a fee involved.

What you get for your money

Although we call it an ‘adoption’ fee it’s not, as you might think, a case of ‘selling’ animals to raise money for the SPCA. It’s actually the heavily subsided cost of ensuring that your new pet goes home with you in the best possible condition. The adoption fee covers the cost of:

  • A full veterinary check-up to make sure your new pet is fit and healthy.
  • All the necessary vaccinations to prevent deadly disease.
  • Deworming and flea treatment to make sure they’re free from parasites that would otherwise end up in your home or garden.
  • Sterilisation to prevent unwanted litters. This applies to both male and female animals, ensuring that your pet can neither produce a litter nor father one.
  • Microchipping – a permanent, non-invasive form of identification that can help reunite you with your pet should they get lost or stolen.
  • An ID disc and collar which provides immediate, visible identification.
  • Good nutrition – your new pet will be handed over to you in peak physical condition, having enjoyed plenty of nourishing food in the weeks and months leading up to their adoption.
  • In certain cases, your pet’s behaviour will have been assessed, and any potential problems pointed out to you so you know what to expect and how to deal with it.

SPCA

How does the adoption fee measure up against the cost of private vet fees?

The SPCA adoption fee is only a fraction of what you’d pay for the same services at a private vet. Vaccinations alone cost more than our fee. And that’s without counting the time and trouble of taking the animal to the vet yourself. Especially if you need to arrange transport.

On top of that, there’s the cost of having the animal spayed or neutered. Please read “5 compelling reasons to have your pets sterilised” to understand why it’s so important not to neglect this responsibility.

All in all, adopting a pet from the SPCA is a really affordable option. And when you think that your new pet will repay you with years of companionship and laughter, it’s well worth the initial investment.

No government funding

Contrary to what some people think, the SPCA is not a government-funded organisation. We don’t get free veterinary supplies or food to help us care for the thousands of stray and unwanted animals that are admitted to our facilities every month. Everything we need to provide loving care and shelter for the animals has to be paid for. And we rely heavily on donations from animal lovers to make our work possible.

Rather than begrudging a very fair charge – when you adopt a new pet from the SPCA, please consider bringing along a donation of pet food. Or make a financial contribution to help provide for all the other furry orphans still waiting for their forever homes.

If you have further questions or comments, please contact our Adoptions Team on 031 579 6500.

Source: Durban SPCA