NSPCA - PROTECTING ALL ANIMALS

I am therefore sure you will be pleased to know that we have decided to withdraw the advertisement in question from the campaign. The advertisement will be flighting for the last time on 22/1/2010.

Members of the public have copied us in with their communications to you and your responses. We feel sure that you are also aware that we have received written and telephonic complaints about the advertisement, our advice being to draw the matter to the attention of Sanlam.

From our side we feel that sensitivity is an issue this being demonstrated by public reaction.

One of our own national directors drew to our attention that an ankus can be seen in the advertisement. This issue alone speaks volumes. The ankus is a tool used on elephants to control them and was one of the pieces of equipment used on the Tuli elephants to which we objected. The entire saga of the Tuli elephant case revolved around training methods of elephants and the use of the ankus was a key issue.

We still have Court transcripts including statement under oath of witnesses relating to the use of these items on elephants.

You may wish to include this information and to check that an ankus can indeed be seen in the visuals.

It cost three animal welfare societies (NSPCA, ZNSPCA and VIERPFOTEN) over a million rand to unchain this family and return them to freedom. We need to recuperate the money to help others – to make a credit card donation click on the icon on the left side of this page, or use these bank details for an EFT donation.

Name: SPCA National Council of SA
Bank: STANDARD BANK
Account Type: CURRENT- Account No: 220639744
Branch: ALBERTON - Branch Code: 012342
Deposit ref: ZIMBABWE ELEPHANTS

(Elephant photo: Courtesy Vierpfoten)

THE FIVE FREEDOMS
Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury or disease
Freedom to express normal behaviour
Freedom from fear and distress

AND THE SIXTH ...
Freedom to be free

The SPCA movement in South Africa has come under attack during 2009 from various sources, some issues having already been addressed and the response statements published on http://www.nspca.co.za .
Recent attacks and criticisms arose from an article in The Star newspaper on 02 December 2009. Photographs of deceased pets were published with staff from an SPCA placing them on a landfill site.
This is a sad reality: - a tragedy for which the SPCA movement is not to blame.
Breeding (of whatever kind) plus failure to sterilise pets has led to this over-population. The SPCA will not refuse admission to any animal.
The issue of euthanasia is emotive. Staff are not heartless. We have been challenged with statements that there are alternates such as donating dogs to the South African Police Service. Dogs which “fail” used to be auctioned off. Now they are donated to the SPCA and over 100 dogs were recently received from the SAPS. We ask people to check the reality of “no kill” organisations as some do not euthanase but have given animals to the SPCA for them to be euthanased. We know that animals given to people “who find homes for them on plots” have ended up in other parts of Africa having been sold to security companies. There are worse fates than euthanasia including the use of dogs in fights or as bait to train fighting dogs. This too is the sad reality.
Emotions have risen over the bodies of pets. Very few crematoria/incinerators exist in our country – and please bear in mind that animals cannot be cremated in the same facility as humans. Crematoria are expensive to build and to run.
The NSPCA wishes our hard-earned money to be spent on the living suffering animals.
If a Municipality does not have an incinerator, then animal bodies have to be taken to a landfill. In the instance highlighted in The Star newspaper, the animals had not been placed in plastic bags by the SPCA Randfontein on the specific instruction of the Municipality because plastic does not decompose.
The whole issue is emotive and sensitive. To give perspective, indeed in a perfect world, each SPCA would have an incinerator and crematorium to honour the memory of each animal who may have died for many reasons, not necessarily through euthanasia. But many SPCAs are struggling to survive financially. The SPCA is affected by the current economic situation and our hard-earned “reserves” are needed for the future to assist living animals and already being eroded to cover ongoing operational costs.
The detractors and critics of our movement have the right to speak out. People have the right to ask questions and be given explanations. One reaction we have encountered is to state that they will no longer support the SPCA. Crippling our movement will impact on the animals and there are countless animals out there in our country who are suffering and who need our help. This would impact on communities.
We invite you to spend a day in the life of an SPCA especially during this so-called “festive season”.
Please spare a thought for our staff who are at the coal-face and bearing the brunt of criticisms and even insults. These are the people who carry out humane euthanasia (interpreted as “killing” or “murder” by some individuals) and who have to take responsibility for the removal and “disposal” of these animals. They deserve support, empathy and understanding.
We are NOT responsible for the situation. Irresponsible members of the public are to blame.

BUY WELFARE FRIENDLY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Do you know what a difference you can make to the life of these chickens and other animals farmed in similar conditions, by just making an informed choice?

CLICK HERE to find out about our new partnership to bring about welfare friendly foods.

The First Fruits Festival matter was before the High Court and the NSPCA had previously been denied entry. Even if entry had been gained, we would not be permitted either to film or to stop the procedure, therefore a decision was taken not to attend. At the same time we were pursuing a different course by consulting with other parties and role players to address the issues of the inhumane manner of killing the bull.

Brief summary of the First Fruits Festival, since January 2007 ... to read more click here. The National Council of SPCAs advises that we have taken the actions ... to read more click here.

The South African Veterinary Association ( SAVA) recently pledged its support to the development of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW). The NSPCA as the intermediary welcomes SAVA to this international campaign by WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals).

Can`t find what you`re looking for on the website? Click here and enter key words - the search will bring up all item son the website which contain any of the key words including web pages, PDF documents, PowerPoints and media releases.

The Board of Directors of the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) wishes to refute allegations and inaccuracies which were recently published in the media concerning the NSPCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Marcelle Meredith. For more about this article and the Centre for Conflict Resolution report

The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) strongly opposes all forms of dog racing. We do not recognize it as a sport, but rather as an exploitation of animals for the purpose of promoting legalized gambling or for human entertainment and competition purposes. Click here to read more ...

The NSPCA was delighted to be taken on-board with the MY SCHOOL scheme earlier this year when a card was launched to support the SPCA National Fund. Please remember that a MY SCHOOL card is not a credit or debit card but when swiped after a purchase has been made at outlets country-wide (including all Woolworths stores), an average of 2% of the amount spent is allocated to us.

By the way, there is also a prize of R5 000.00 for one voter! Click here to read more ...

USE OF THE SPCA LOGO
Please note: the SPCA logo is owned and copyrighted by the NSPCA. It may not be reproduced, copied or used without the express written permission of the NSPCA.