MEDIA STATEMENT
FUEL PRICE INCREASES – HITTING SPCAs HARD
With diesel reaching R10 a litre, the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) and SPCAs countrywide are literally counting the cost.
Fuel is necessity in animal welfare work. Emergency response, rescues of animals, reacting in disasters such as fires or floods plus investigations of cruelty and routine monitoring – all require fuel.
The financial resources of the SPCA movement are being hit hard. “There is no question of compromising our work and commitment. But it means taking funds allocated for other matters or projects to be able to pay for fuel.”
“SPCA inspectors, in our opinion, should be “out there” – in the field doing the work. Cruelty does not come to us. Our work is far and wide. Our personnel are doing their jobs when they are “on the move” and literally assisting animals.”
”Personnel have been instructed to drive in the most responsible fuel-saving manner and also to avoid unnecessary trips. But you never know whether a trip is necessary to assist an animal until you have reached the destination. Over and above our commitment to help animals is our legal obligation to investigate each complaint received.”
NSPCA spokesperson Christine Kuch was recently asked by a member of the public if her donation would help animals directly or would go “into the kitty.” The NSPCA reply was that in the case of fuel, we need to appreciate that whilst it may be considered an “overhead”, it is a basic necessity to assist animals.
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