Cape of Good Hope
We speak for, protect and care for animals
ISSUE 2, 2015
Results of the 2015 Animal Protection Index And how SA fares
Cars are not Kennels Help us save animals this summer
Snakes Everything you need to know
Inspectors - our everyday heroes. Interview with Inspector Sparky Moseki.
Cape of Good Hope
ISSUE 2, 2015 EDITORIAL BELINDA ABRAHAM WANIKA DAVIDS PO Box 3, Plumstead, Cape Town, 7801, Tel: 021 700 4141 Fax: 021 705 2127 Email: comms@spca-ct.co.za COVER Inspector Theo Arendolf spends time with one of our dogs up for adoption. Photograph by Alexander Stevens. DESIGN JOAN SUTTON 021 712 0101 PRINTING SPONSORED BY FORMESET 021 507 9000 Make a donation and support SPCAs in need: Bank: Standard Branch: Constantia Branch Code: 051001 Acc no: 063 002 167 Acc name: Cape of Good Hope SPCA Footprints is published by the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, and all profits are used to further the work of this organisation. The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or the management of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. While every effort is made to ensure editorial and factual accuracy, no responsibility is accepted for any errors.
Report Animal Cruelty: Tel: 021 700 4158/9 A/H Emergency: 083 326 1604 www.spca-ct.co.za @SPCACape @SPCACape
facebook.com/CapeofGoodHopeSPCA
Letter from THE EDITOR Dear Friends What a year it has been. If we ever thought that winter was a time of hibernation - we’d have been sorely mistaken, as these past few months have kept all of us at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA on the tips of our toes in our mission to serve animals. In compiling this last issue for the year, we must thank you for sharing your views on Footprints with us, in our survey that accompanied the previous issue. Your input helped guide our editorial choices, to give you an interesting and inspiring read. For our Inspectorate, every day presents a new challenge to serve and protect animals - and they tackle each case, each scenario, each day, with gusto, bravery and an unwavering commitment to the cause. We took a
look at the latest World Animal Index, the results of which were recently released (read more about our thoughts on the API on pages 8-10), and spent time with Inspector Kgakgamatso ‘Sparky’ Moseki, who told us about her daily life as an SPCA Inspector (page 22). And as things heat up in our Inspectorate control room with the socalled ‘peak season’, so too does the weather - and sadly, for many dogs, that means countless minutes or hours spent trapped inside a locked hot car. This summer, we’re aiming to raise awareness of this dangerously irresponsible act, and urge you, our loyal supporters to help us show that cars are not kennels (read more about our plea on page 12). As always, warmer weather means
lots more outdoor adventures with your beloved pets and that also means, snakes! We share with you all you need to know about these sly and slinky creatures, to keep you and your pets safe this summer (page 14). Our resident veterinarians also share some tips on how to know when your pet needs medical attention (page 18), and we show off some of the efforts of those of you who have supported our fundraisers (pages 16 and 20). So here’s tipping our proverbial hat to you for all the support, in kind, financial, or spirit - for without you, much of the work we do in our Inspectorate, Hospital, Kennels, Horse, Farm and Wildlife Units would not be possible. Happy Reading! Wanika
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CONTENTS 7
Shop With Us Support the SPCA by shopping at our Vet Shops and supporting our fundraisers
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The latest World Animal Index A comparative insight into the state of Animal Welfare in South Africa
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Busting Myths about Snakes The know-how on the most common snakes in the Cape
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Cars are Not Kennels Help us save dogs from hot carsthis summer
Thousands of Woofs at the Woefie Wandel The 2015 PURINA Woefie Wandel raises over R100k for animals
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When to see the Vet Knowing when to see the vet can be confusing our Vets offer some guidance
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Wildlife Sends us Running TeamSPCA takes on the 2015 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon in aid of Wildlife
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Inspectors tell all A snippet into the life of CoGH SPCA Inspector, 'Sparky' Moseki.
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Become an Animal Guardian The CoGH SPCA Bequest Society re-brands itself
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Do good - and win! Every month, you have the chance to help numerous animals at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA through a mere R50 donation - and if you do, you could win R 10 000!
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By joining the Tails Up Club at the CoGH SPCA, your monthly donation doesn’t only get you a ticket into the monthly draw for the grand prize - but also ensures that the animals in our care remain well fed and cared for. To join, you need to sign up for a minimum monthly donation of R50 for 1 year (that’s at least 12 chances to win!). And don’t worry about the odds - the Tails Up Club is limited to only 2000 members, making your chances of winning that much greater! For more information about the club or to register to join, contact the Telesales department on 021 700 4156 or email telesales@spca-ct.co.za.
Winners of the Tails Up Club lucky draw from June 2015 to September 2015 are:
June
Mr Hugo Train (Kronenzicht Est)
July
Mr D Hart (Penhill)
August
Mrs J Green (Durban)
September Mrs A Pugnalin (Oranjezicht)
SHOP WITH US
For more info on these fundraising products for sale, contact Natasha Johannes on 021 700 4155 or email awareness@spca-ct.co.za.
New Grassy Park Vet Shop Opening Soon! Our new Vet Shop at Grassy Park will be opening in November and we are happy to announce that with more space we are able to offer a much wider selection of pet foods and products to keep your dog or cat happy and healthy. Our friendly knowledgeable staff will assist you in all your pet needs. Our Plumstead store remains conveniently situated in Gabriel Road, Plumstead, trading until 6pm on weekdays and until 2pm on Saturdays. Be sure to ask about our affordable Home Delivery Service!
Save the Date
Save
New Facility Grand Opening Watch your local media, email inboxes and post boxes for details of the Grand Opening of our brand new facility in Grassy Park December/January 2016.
the Date
Remember: In shopping with us, you are helping the Cape of Good Hope SPCA to speak, protect and care for all animals.
MySchool SPCA MySchool SPCA Wiggle Wiggle Waggle Walkathon Waggle family Walkathon This much-loved fun dog walk much-loved family fun returns onThis Sunday 1 November dog walk returns on Sunday 1 2015. November 2015.
Grassy Park Store: Cnr 1st Ave & First Road, Grassy Park | 021 700 4161 | gpvetshop@spca-ct.co.za Plumstead Store: 6 Gabriel Road, Plumstead 021 761 4463 | vetshop@spca-ct.co.za
Bag-A-Bargain Book Sale Bag-A-Bargain This popular book sale isBook backSale on popular book sale is back Saturday This 7 November 2015. on Saturday 7 November 2015. New Facility Grand Opening Watch your local media, email Cape Town Cycle inboxes and post boxes forTour details of Join TeamSPCA they new take the Grand Opening of ouras brand on the Cape Town Cycle Tour facility in Grassy Park on Sunday2016. 6 March 2016 December/January Mutual Two Oceans Wild for Old Wildlife Marathon A new, exciting Wildlife-focussed for the of animals event on Run Saturday 27love February 2016on
Give your books a SECOND CHANCE
If you’ve read that favourite can’t-putdown more times than you can remember, then perhaps it’s time to consider breathing new life into it and donating those good old favourite books so that others might also enjoy the read. The CoGH SPCA is always looking for donations of books in the following categories: l Children (English and Afrikaans) l History and Politics l Africana
l l
l l l l l l l l
Art Autobiography and Biography Crafts Classics Inspirational or self help Religion Business and finance Afrikaans books Fiction CD’s, DVD’s and games
For more information on our books and book sales, contact Natasha Johannes on 021 700 4155 or email awareness@spca-ct.co.za.
Cape Town Cycle Tour Join TeamSPCA as they take on the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday 6 March 2016 Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon Run for the love of animals on Saturday 26 March 2016 To participate in any of the above events and fundraisers, please contact our Fundraising Team on 021 700 4141 or email frreception@spca-ct.co.za.
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The World Animal
Charity shop goes up in flames
The latest World Animal Protection Index has recently been released analysing 50 countries worldwide according to their legislation and policy commitments to protecting animals. Countries are rated against an A-G scale; A indicating the highest scores, and G indicating the most room for improvement.
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South Africa, rated D, was compared below against the United Kingdom (A), United States of America (D) and Germany (B). Advocating for the Rights of all Animals As is witnessed most by our Inspectorate at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, there is much still to be done in the areas of legislation and policy in South Africa. Whilst we have
legislation in place, there is only partial application with little to formal recognition of animal sentience. The Animals Protection Act (APA) section 2(1) of 1962 refers to an implied animal sentience, but the act only covers domestic animals and birds, and wild animals, birds and reptiles that are in captivity or under the control of humans. Therefore this recognition of sentience (albeit implied) does not extend to fish, and
Protection Index How South Africa fares and how to improve In comparison, the United Kingdom, through their various laws (The Animal Welfare Act 2006 for England and Wales; Animal Health and Welfare Act 2006 for Scotland and the Welfare of Animals Act 2011 for Northern Ireland) formally recognises all vertebrates as sentient beings. The United Kingdom scores an A overall in the index, because of their governments’ commitment to promote high standards of animal welfare for all kept animals, including farmed animals, livestock and fish right to the point of slaughter. These commitments, in addition to promoting responsible pet ownership, also promote the reduction in the use of animals in scientific testing and research as well as attempt to protect wild animals through the banning of ivory sales, and tackling the smuggling and illegal trade of wildlife. In South Africa, there remain issues with regard to animal welfare and protection that relate to cultural attitudes toward animals and various
practises. These however present constitutional implications when attempting to address particular issues - but these, as seen through our work at the CoGH SPCA, can be addressed through humane education. Take for example, the work of our Education Department, in humane education with regard to farm animals and livestock. Our team has, this year, begun work to help establish sustainable agricultural business practises by educating emerging farmers on issues of farm animal welfare including but not limited to farm animal best practises, humane slaughter and how to meet the minimum requirements for living conditions, transport and care. Setting up farms as a form of economic empowerment may help emerging farmers but without animal welfare considerations being taken into account, the aim of creating selfsufficient communities will not be achieved. Naturally we can only achieve our objectives by building
constructive relationships with farmers and this is done via outreach activities in conjunction with Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) Animal Health Technicians.
The task of humane education is one, in South Africa, that is carried out almost wholly by NGOs such as the SPCA. Having no formal legislation or policy providing for humane education in the national education curricula, this work is left up to organisations like the COGH SPCA, who address school children on a daily basis through our Ani-Pal and Mobile Clinic Education Programmes. South Africa was rated F in the ranking of Support for the Universal
PTO
does not cover wild animals in their natural, wild state.Punishments for breach of the APA include fines, imprisonment, confiscation and banning of animal ownership,
although with little to no existing case law in many instances in the country, more and more cases become increasingly difficult to prosecute to the full extent of the law. 9
You can view the Animal Protection Index and read more about how South Africa fares globally at: http://api.worldanimalprotection.org/country/south-africa.
Declaration on Animal Welfare, where the South African government has shown no formal support. The UDAW is a proposed “formal international acknowledgment of a set of principles giving animal welfare due recognition among governments and the international community� (http://api.worldanimalprotection.org/ country/south-africa). By comparison, The United Kingdom ranked B; The USA, E and Germany, D.
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Globally, there is still so much more to be done in advocating for the rights of animals through policy, legislation, practise and most importantly, education. Humane education is at the heart of a solid foundation for any person, and through education, we believe, that we will slowly, but surely, move toward a more compassionate and well-rounded society.
Cape of Good Hope
Name or co-sponsor a kennel
Public domain image by Pixabay.com
Make a lasting difference
Be a part of our new Animal Care Centre and have your chosen name mounted on a kennel door. It’s a unique way to leave your mark and show your passion for animal welfare. For more information on the different sponsorship options, please contact Joette Emerton on 021 700 4150 or email bequestofficer@spca-ct.co.za
Cars are not Perhaps the statement would appear logical - to some - that cars are not kennels. But far too often, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA Inspectorate is flogged with calls about dogs that have been locked in cars, with or without open windows. It has become apparent therefore, that a car is thought to be a safe place for a dog to rest.
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On the contrary, hot, locked cars, especially during the summer months, are one of the most dangerous places for your dog.
A parked car, on a hot, summery day of 27 degrees Celsius, even with windows left slightly open “for air” can reach an internal temperature of almost 50 degrees Celsius - in just ten minutes!
You’ll hardly find a human being who can withstand such conditions, let alone a dog, who’s covered in thick fur. This can be exceptionally dangerous to your dog’s health - and can even be fatal. Dogs cool themselves in hot temperatures by panting, and drinking cool water. Dogs cannot sweat through their skin like humans do. Their sweat glands are located on the pads of their paws. So instead, they pant to circulate cool air through their bodies, and cool their internal temperatures. Drinking cool, fresh water helps to do this and if there’s no access to water, they can quickly overheat, resulting in permanent brain damage and even death.
What to do if you see a dog locked in a car: It’s a truly unfortunate scenario at many shopping malls and centres across the country - and in Cape Town, it extends to beach fronts, small and large shopping centres and any public area where people believe their stop won’t be very long. The following steps will help you assist any dog trapped inside a hot car:
Public domain image by Pixabay.com
Kennels els
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Determine if the owner of the vehicle is nearby - ask any restaurants, shops or offices nearby to make an announcement to their customers.
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Determine if the windows are open sufficiently, and if the dog has any access to a water bowl that has perhaps been left inside for him/her. Parking in a shaded area is not necessarily any better and dependent on the outside temperature, can still be as dangerous.
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Call the Cape of Good Hope SPCA Inspectorate (021 700 4158/9 or 083 326 1604 a/h), or any other nearby animal welfare for assistance and give as much detail as you can.
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DO NOT break the windows of the vehicle to rescue the dog. This act is still illegal and is best left to authorities like the South African Police Service (SAPS). If a dog is found to be in major distress, it is important to call SAPS along with the SPCA or other animal welfare, so that the dog may legally, and safely, be removed from the vehicle.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA aims to raise awareness of the dangers of leaving a dog in a locked, unattended car. Help us bring the plight of dogs subjected to this type of cruelty to light, by using #carsarenotkennels in all your social media posts - and let’s help dogs city-wide to never again be subjected to irresponsible pet ownership. Report Animal Cruelty: Tel: 021 700 4158/9 A/H Emergency: 083 326 1604 l www.spca-ct.co.za
@SPCACape
facebook.com/CapeofGoodHopeSPCA @SPCACape
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Busting myths They present a genuine and paralysing fear to many - yet most of them are really, quite harmless. That’s right - snakes.
Cape Cobra
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Being Cape Town, surrounded with all its awe-inspiring natural beauty, snakes are a common garden-find in many homes around the Cape. And all too often, many snakes meet a cruel hand out of human fear. While there are around 42 snake species found in the Western Cape, there are only 3, found in Cape Town, that are considered medically significant, owing to their potentially lifethreatening venom. Others are
perhaps only mildly venomous, or possess no venom at all. The 3 significant snakes, of whom fear is understandable, are the Cape Cobra, Puff Adder and Boomslang. The Cape Cobra’s venom is neurotoxic - meaning it affects the nerves; a Puff Adder’s venom is cytotoxic, causing cell damage and tissue destruction; and the Boomslang’s venom is haemotoxic, stopping blood from clotting which means increased
about snakes difficulty in stopping a bite wound from bleeding. Other mildly venomous snakes would perhaps cause a mild headache or fever - these include the Skaapsteker, Red-lipped Herald and the Harlequine Snake. As much as we fear snakes, with their strange, slinky and creepy bodies; their sly and unsuspecting persona - we must remember that most often, they are more scared of us than we of them.
What to do if you find a snake in your home? 1.The first, and most important thing to do, is to leave the snake alone. A snake will not attack if not provoked. When a snake does attack it’s more than likely that the snake found it necessary to defend itself. Do not lash out at the snake with violence, as many times, the snake is harmless to you. 2.Call in an expert. As part of your list of emergency contact numbers on the fridge, include those of a conservation agency, snake handler, or the CoGH SPCA Wildlife Unit. These people are qualified to handle snakes and have the necessary tools and knowledge to do so. 3.Keep an eye on the snake from a safe distance. 4.If your pet gets bitten by a snake, it is as important to identify the type of snake, as it is to seek veterinary treatment as quickly as possible.
Puff Adder
Boomslang
Common myths about snakes 1.“Where there’s one snake - there’s more!” This is incorrect. Snakes do not always travel in pairs; and when a small snake is found, it does not mean that this snake is the offspring and it’s mother will be nearby. Some snakes are simply small in size. 2.“Run - the snake will chase you!” Snakes do not chase people. If you come across a snake in the veld, remain still until the snake moves away. If you are a good distance from the snake already, slowly, and quietly retreat from the area. If you do not pose a threat to the snake - it will not find reason to attack. 3.“It’s a snake!” Many times, calls to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA Wildlife Unit for snakes, are in fact for lizards. The most common of these is the Cape Legless Skink - it is a lizard, not a snake, and is harmless. Another common mistake is that of the Mole Snake - although this snake can get quite large in size, it is not a cobra, and is not venomous - he’ll only give you a nasty bite if provoked. 4.“Snakes are the vermin of the earth.” Quite the contrary - snakes are exceptionally important for the environment, as they keep rats, mice and moles away.
Rhombic Egg Eater
Mole Snake
Common Slug Eater
Olive House Snake
Aurora House Snake
Common Brown Water Snake
The most commonly found snakes in Cape Town homes are pictured on these pages.
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The ever popular Woefie Wandel took place on 15 March 2015 at D’Aria Wine Estate in Durbanville, and welcomed 1100 dogs and their owners to meander through the picturesque wine estate - all for the love of animals. Over R 105 000.00 was raised for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA and the festivities of the morning were a sure sign of the support. Popular Cape Town comedians, Dalin Oliver and Carl Weber, returned as MC’s of the Woefie Wandel - once again entertaining the crowds - and dogs - before and after the walk. We could just say that “roll-over”, was not an instruction only obeyed by the pooches. Thanks must go once again to event sponsors, PURINA, who also provided a number of giveaways and spot prizes on the day, as well as the many food vendors, and others, who provided scrumptious sustenance for the walkers.
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Cape of Good Hope
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When should my pet see the Vet? It’s often confusing to know when and when not to seek professional veterinary advice for one’s pet. And although we ourselves are known for selfmedicating instead of visiting the doctor, for our pets - this should not be the case as it can be detrimental to their health and wellbeing. Footprints spoke to Dr Stephanie Chatry (BVSc), one of our resident Veterinarians at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, who offered some advice to pet owners: Keep your puppy away from communal / public areas until they are fully vaccinated. This will help protect them from potentially fatal diseases such as Parvo Virus and Canine Distemper. Contrary to popular belief, it is not advisable to feed your dog bones (especially chicken bones), as they can get stuck
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anywhere in the digestive tract, from the teeth to the colon. Not only is this very dangerous, but can cost you thousands in surgical fees. Never self-medicate using human medicine, as strengths and dosages are very different for animals. Human medication, such as Aspirin or Panado, can cause severe side-effects like gastric ulceration. Sterilisation is very important and helps reduce unwanted behaviour such as roaming; reduces the risk of contracting
diseases such as Transmissable Venereal Tumours in dogs and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus / Feline Leukemia Virus in casts, testicular cancer and infections of the uterus. Most importantly, it reduces the number of unwanted kittens and puppies. If your pet is sick, you need to seek veterinary advice as soon as possible. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Pets most often indicate their discomfort or illness by not eating or drinking water - with this, you can monitor for 24 hours before visiting your vet. If there’s vomiting or diarrhoea, especially at a young age, seek veterinary advice immediately. Do not trust yourself or a breeder to administer vaccinations correctly. Vaccines need to be kept in particular conditions in order to be effective - always have your Vet vaccinate your pets.
Microchips should only ever be inserted by a qualified vet. Just as you would “baby proof” your home - be sure to keep all medicines and poisons out of reach of your pets especially puppies and kittens who are very curious. If your pet, no matter what age, does come into contact with any type of poison, make sure you seek veterinary attention as quickly as possible, and take the poison bottle / container with you to the vet. Always remember to deworm your pets and your children every 6 months. Knowledge is power - make sure you research your pet's breed so that you can provide the best care for their specific needs. If you’re uncertain of something, always consult your vet. You can contact the CoGH SPCA Animal Hospital with any query, on 021 700 4145/64 during office hours.
Running for Wildlife
Left to right: Claire Davidson, Zelda Cottle, Linda Payton, Karen Meyer, and Delwin Smith, at the Better Runner Workshop which was hosted on the 21-2-2015
The world’s most beautiful marathon, the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, would not be such, without the majestic scenery and wildlife that the race traverses. So it was easy to focus 2015’s Team SPCA race to one particular cause - to Run for Wildlife. When the Cape Fires ravaged through the national park in March, it became ever more pressing that Running for Wildlife was the best cause at the time. 54 Team SPCA runners signed up to speak for animals, and collectively raised over R 140 000.00 for the SPCA’s Wildlife Unit. William Simpson kindly sponsored R 10 000.00 which covered the printing costs of the runners’ T-shirts and goodie-bags. Energy in Abundance made a donation of R 1137.87 towards Team SPCA, and Rand Merchant Bank’s Hug Fund, showed their support of our wildlife by
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donating a whopping R 56 900.00 to cover the running costs of one of our Wildlife Unit’s vehicles - to assist in the rescue and rehabilitation of injured and displaced wildlife. Team SPCA also exhibited at the OMTOM Expo, where we handed out goodie-bags to team members and raffled a Wild Card, sponsored by South African National Parks. Visitors to the stand were also encouraged to “adopt” a soft toy ‘pet’ - and we raised an extra R 9000.00 for the Team SPCA - bringing the total monies raised to an incredible R 210 000.00.
Marise Burger & Gerhard Maritz
, Dear Natasha st OMTOM and fir y m This was awesome wow, what an who friend of mine experience! A st r fi e th r fo ce also did the ra to she would like t a th d i sa , e tim he s very year until do this race e th - I feel the ar leaves this e same. attending From the time to h Team SPCA workshops wit he t s, l i a m e l iona all the inspirat this r fo s nd fu g isin training and ra - I will do this worthy cause this that I will get again. I hope nd ar ain next ye (a opportunity ag of t r a p that) to be the year after u o y nk a h T team. this awesome f o t r a p e m aking so much for m Team SPCA. h est wishes wit Regards and b ventures, all your future le t Zelda Cot
Cathy & Werner Van Der Merwe
Left: Zelda Cottle
Thank you to every member of Team SPCA, for Running for Wildlife:
Our thanks also go to Claire Davidson from Full Circle Wellness for offering free running tips and advice and hosted a free runner’s workshop to the team.
Nicole Psaltis
Sarah Hill
Ryan Arendse
Dino Hansjee
Michael Bolton
Stuart Hearmon
Danie Boshoff
Sarah Hill
Erika Boshoff
Lesley-Anne Hodgskin
Elani Bosman
Margaret Kennard-Davis
Nadine Breytenbach
David Le Roux
Marise Burger
Terina Le Roux
Marilyn Carter
Gerhard Maritz
Piet Chetty
Rachael May
Christiaan Coetzee
Ian McWilliam
Clive Coetzee
Karen Meyer
Lillian Coetzee
Alexandra Morgan
Zelda Cottle
Juliette Neve
Roland Croxford
Monica Nunes
Claire Davidson
Linda Payton
Zelnita Dennis
Lourens Pienaar
Peter Eaglen
Yolisa Qunta
Dirk Esterhuizen
Sven Reisinger
Kim Esterhuizen
Louis Robert
Bernard Faul
Delwin Smith
Fallon Finlayson
Eden Theron
Warren Fisher
Nicole Tyler
Lee-Ann Gardner
Juanita v. d. Westhuizen
Jennifer Gould
Cathy Van Der Merwe
Katie Gould
Werner Van Der Merwe
Carina Gouveia
MadelĂŠ Van Heerden
Rob Gwilliam
Leon Wentzel
Stuart Hearmon
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A day in the life of an SPCA Inspector -
Kgakgamatso “Sparky” Moseki
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Often a thankless job, SPCA Inspectors, are more times than not, the first point of contact for an SPCA. Working tirelessly every day to improve the lives of animals this team of brave soldiers do it all. Footprints sat down with Inspector Kgakgamatso “Sparky” Moseki to chat about her experiences.
this aspect, and we are accused of being uncaring, or not willing to do our jobs. We take a lot of verbal abuse from people when they don’t understand the law or our limitations. On the flip side though, there are people who really appreciate the work we do, and the appreciation we get from them really keeps us going and uplifts our spirits when we feel How long have you been an SPCA exhausted. Being an inspector is Inspector? emotionally and psychologically I’ve been doing this for four draining and you have to be When we, as Inspectors, can educate years now. I started as a trainee strong willed and determined to the public on how to best care for inspector at Mafekeng SPCA make a difference out there for animals; and you can see the positive and then moved here in 2011 the animals. and qualified as an Inspector at What does a typical day look impact this empowerment has on the the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. like to you? people - that is one of the best things I am also a qualified Animal I live quite far away from the we can ask for. Health Technician with a BSc office, so I wake up early and set degree in Animal Health from off on the road early to avoid What is the worst thing about the University of North West. traffic. Many times, I get despatched being an inspector? I find that the knowledge I have to a call or case on my way in to I think the worst is when our hands gained from my studies helps in work - these could be calls for MVA’s are tied. When we investigate a tremendous ways in my daily work. (motor vehicle accidents) on the road reported case, but there is no welfare I am able to identify and advise etc. I then take a detour to start my concern in terms of the Animal’s people on animal and zoonotic day on the road. Protection Act, sometimes the diseases and much more. Knowledge Once I get to the office in Grassy complainant struggles to understand is power in this job. Park, I’ll attend first to any animals
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Which areas of Cape Town do you work in? I work from Cape Point to Sea Point. What would you say is the best thing about your job? As cliché as it may sound making a real difference is what keeps me going. Removing animals from a bad situation and seeing the relief on both people and animals’ faces - that’s what makes me want to do more.
that I may have collected on my way getting them set up in the hospital for treatment, or whatever the necessary procedure required may be. Next is to check the status of any current cases and follow up with pending requests / feedback to complainants. Shortly after that, I get the details of more cases for the day and head out on the road. During a typical day, we can be asked to do a rescue, investigate a cruelty case, set up feral cat traps, bring animals in for sterilisation and return animals to owners, follow ups etc. Most times you don’t even get time for lunch and you can work right through to 6 or 7pm. Can you share with us your favourite success story? It’s really difficult to point out just one, as many days have successes, great and small. To recall just one perhaps my investigation of an importer of illegal Glue Traps: We received a complaint about glue traps being distributed from an Epping factory to various retailers in the Cape. I went to do an inspection at the factory, and after informing the owner that glue traps are illegal, and that by selling them, he is in contravention of the Animal’s Protection Act 71 of 1962, he agreed to halt all sales of the product. He contacted all his suppliers and buyers confirming that he will no longer be selling these products. Knowing that we got the supplier, means that there are far less of these traps on the shelves available to the public to purchase this is a big win for animal welfare. If there was just one thing you could personally teach pet owners what would it be? I’d like to teach just one thing that animals are a life-long commitment. When you decide to get a pet, you should know that you commit to caring for that animal to the best of your ability, for the rest of his/her life. Pets are an addition to your family and they should be cared for as such. Research the specific breed of animal before you get it - so that you know how best to care for the animal.
Become an Animal Guardian Nearly 20 years ago our Bequest Society was established, and it has grown over the years to include members who are extremely dedicated to our cause. By remembering Cape of Good Hope SPCA in their Will, they work alongside us to protect animals, rescue them from harm and care for them long into the future. With this sentiment in mind, we decided it was time to give these special supporters a name of their own - something that represents their love for animals and their passion for helping those in need Animal Guardians. Our Animal Guardians are cherished partners who help us build a future where animals are treated with the care and respect they deserve. Would you like to join us as an Animal Guardian and make a positive difference to the lives of animals with a gift in your Will? Or perhaps you would like further information about the impact your gift could have? Call Joette Emerton on 021 700 4150 or email legacy@capespca.co.za and we’ll be happy to send you our Animal Guardians booklet, or answer any questions you have.
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THERE’S AN EASIER WAY TO
Cape of Good Hope