footprints
DESCRIPTION
Magazine of the Cape of Good Hope SPCATRANSCRIPT
Cape of Good Hope
October isPet Adoption Month
October isPet Adoption Month
We speak for, protect and care for animals ISSUE 2, 2012We speak for, protect and care for animals ISSUE 2, 2012
Contents and letter from
the Editor
Shop with us - Best buys for
your furry friends
SPCA Heroes - Just some of
the amazing people who
made a difference
For your Diary - Giddy up for
the SPCA Horse Show and
diarise the date now for the
best dog walks in SA, the
SPCA Wiggle Waggle Walk-
athon and Woefie Wandel
Fight against cruelty -
Inspectorate outreach
promotes sterilisation 3
CONTENTS
ISSUE 2, 2012
EDITORIAL
DESIGN
COVER PHOTOGRAPH
PRINTING SPONSORED BY
PAPER SPONSORED BY
SARAH SCARTH, LISE-MARIE
GREEFF-VILLET, LAMEES MARTIN,
LEE-ANNE JACOBS
PO Box 3, Plumstead,
Cape Town, 7801,
Tel: 021 700 4141
Fax: 021 705 2127
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.spca-ct.co.za
JOAN SUTTON
Mobile: 084 562 3425
Email: [email protected]
Jo-Ann Strauss and Panda by Micky
Wiswedel of Black Dog Studios
FORMESET
Tel: 021 507 9000
NOR PAPER
Tel: 021 511 3810
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 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.
BANK DETAILS:
Cape of Good Hope SPCA
Standard Bank
Account: 0718 32858
Branch: 051001
Ref: Footprints / your name
IN MEMORY OF
ASTRID AUSTERFIELD
DEDICATED TO GINZA AND PETRA
PHYLLIS CLASSE
IN MEMORY OF NEVILLE AND
CHRISTOPHER
Report Animal Cruelty:
A/H Emergency:
www.spca-ct.co.za
Tel: 021 700 4158/9
083 326 1604
Dear Friends
With Spring in the air we are getting
ready for our big fundraising events:
the SPCA Horse Show in Constantia
on 21 October; the Wiggle Waggle
Walkathon on Sunday, 2 December in
Tokai; and the Woefie-Wandel in the
Durbanville Hill’s Wine Valley on
17 March 2013. These family-
friendly, animal-lovin’ events are great
fun for the whole family and we look
forward to seeing you there. Further
details are available on our website
(www.spca-ct.co.za) or by calling us
on 021 700 4141.
Springtime also means we are
preparing to cope with an influx of
unwanted puppies and kittens born
from dogs and cats left unsterilised.
Read about the Mass Pet Sterilisation
Pilot Project in Kayamandi, Stellen-
bosch on page 16.
Encouraging people to adopt rather
than buy a pet is critical to us giving
animals a second chance. Last year
the SPCA Hill’s adoption campaign
was a huge success and resulted in
dozens of animals being adopted to
wonderful new homes.
We’re very proud and fortunate to
Letter from THE EDITOR
have Hill’s support us again and on
pages 10 and 11 you can read all
about the SPCA Hill’s “Life’s Better
Shared” adoption campaign, which
runs for the month of October. Our
ambassadors for the campaign are
former Miss South Africa and TV
presenter, Jo-Ann Strauss, comedian
Kurt Schoonraad and radio and TV
presenter, Liezel van der Westhuizen,
who each care passionately about
the welfare of animals and strongly
support the call to adopt a pet. Hill’s
are giving us R100 for every dog and
cat adopted from our SPCA during
the month of October, plus there’s a
free Hill’s bag of food for every new
animal adopted. If you are thinking of
getting a pet or want to support the
campaign, please visit
www.lifesbettershared.co.za.
Our pet care feature on page 19
deals with the serious issue of pet
obesity and you can read about the
SPCA’s involvement in preventing the
illegal export of dogs to Angola on
page 19. We also feature the trade in
exotic pets (page 14 and 15) and our
recent success in releasing 25
Angulate Tortoises at the Diemers-
October is Pet Adoption
Month - read all about the
new SPCA Hill’s ‘Life’s Better
Shared’ pet adoption
campaign
SPCA Hospital - Gugulethu
Good Samaritan helps
injured dog
Does your pet need to go
on a diet?
Feature - Tortoise release
highlights dangers of exotic
pet trade
Join the challenge and
make a difference by
cycling or running for TEAM
SPCA in the Cape Argus Pick
n Pay Cycle Tour and/or Old
Mutual Two Oceans Marathon
Feature - Web sites used to
source dogs for export warns
SPCA
Mutt of the Year teams up
with Premier
Wildlife Unit Update - Read
about a roaming otter in Sea
Point and a meerkat in
Loevenstein both rescued by
the SPCA
Happy Tails
fontein Wine Estate in Wellington -
a truly uplifting experience made
possible thanks to the support of
our loyal donors!
We’ve had some wonderful
feedback on the first edition of our
new PawPrints newsletter. If for some
reason you didn’t receive your copy
of PawPrints, please let us know or
if you’d like additional copies to
share with colleagues, friends and
family, please contact Adri Truter at
[email protected] or call
her on 021 700 4168.
In closing, this will be my last issue
as the Editor of Footprints. As I step
down as head of Communications and
Fundraising at the Cape of Good Hope
SPCA, it gives me great pleasure to
introduce Lise-Marie Greeff-Villet
(pictured with me above), who brings
a wealth of experience as a seasoned
communications specialist and
committed and passionate animal
welfare advocate. Thank you for your
support over the past four years and
let’s continue to work together to
make our city, country and the world
a better place for animals.
Sarah
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16
Cape of Good Hope
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4 10 2114
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4
The SPCA Charity Book Sale at Canal Walk,
which took place at the Vida-e court in
Canal Walk between 29 June and 1 July,
was a great success and raised over
R40 000 for the many animals our society
rescues and cares for. Just a month later,
close to R17 000 was raised at the annual
Cavendish Square Charity Book Sale, which
took place from 23 to 26 August. Thank
you to everyone who supported the sales
and to those who donated books. Be sure
to drop in at the next SPCA Bag a Bargain
Book Sale on 6 October at the SPCA Vet
Shop in Plumstead, or visit the SPCA’s
second-hand book shop at its premises in
Grassy Park (cnr First Road and 1st Ave,
Grassy Park). Opening hours are from 9am
to 4pm weekdays and from 9am to 12pm
on weekends and public holidays.
Book bonanza
Photo by Terri-Leigh Boonzaier
Photo by Terri-Leigh Boonzaier
SPCA Christmas cards are available
at R23 per five-pack from the SPCA
Vet Shop in Plumstead; at the SPCA
in Grassy Park; and at the St. John’s
Christmas card stall at Valyland
Centre in Fish Hoek. Look out for
them at the Charity Christmas Card
kiosks in major shopping centers
from 15 October. For company and
large orders contact Natasha
Johannes on 021 700 4141 or email
[email protected]. Special
thanks to Ciplavet for sponsoring the
festive new range.
In the name of
pet identity
The new City of Cape Town Animal
By-Law makes it compulsory for all
pets to wear some form of pet
identification - either a pet id tag
and/or micro-chip. Personalised brass
pet identification tags are available
from the SPCA at R50 each. Choose
from bone-shaped tags for dogs or
round tags in two sizes, suitable for
dogs and cats. For more information
and to order, contact Natasha
Johannes, on 021 700 4141 or
email: [email protected].
Every swipe countsThanks to the support of the MySchool MyVillage
MyPlanet fundraising programme, almost R48 000
has been raised this year by shoppers who
selected the Cape of Good Hope SPCA as their
charity. The MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet is one of the country's
largest fundraising programmes, which allow shoppers to raise funds for their
favourite charity by simply swiping each time they make a purchase at a
participating store. To join the programme and apply for your free card visit
www.myschool.co.za or call 0860 100 445.
New SPCA Christmas Cards now in stock
SHOP WITH US
Blank Books, situated in the Positive Imaging Gallery opposite the Biscuit
Mill (368 Albert Rd) in Woodstock, stocks good quality fiction and non-
fiction books as well as selected documentaries. They also sell specialist
books on behalf of the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. For more information
visit www.blankbooks.co.za
Best buys for your
furry friends…brought
to you by the SPCA
Vet Shop team
5
6 Gabriel Road, PlumsteadStockists of all leading pet product brands
Trading Hours: Monday to Friday: 8am - 6pm, Saturday: 8am - 2pm.
Tel: 021 761 4463 - Delivery service available
SPCA Vet Shop
Cape of Good Hope
All profits from product sales help the SPCA fight animal cruelty
Photo
by
Terr
i-Le
igh B
oonza
ier
HEARTY MEALS SERVED WITH LOVE
Make feeding time a loving occasion with a pink or blue heart-shaped
SPCA feeding bowl. Suitable for cats and small dogs, these bowls are
available from our SPCA Vet shop while stocks last at a special price of
just R30. For larger orders contact Natasha Johannes, on
021 700 4141 or email [email protected].
Receive a free toy when you
buy a bulk bag of Hill’s cat or dog
food at the SPCA Vet Shop in October.
A complimentary catnip mouse is yours with
the purchase of any 5kg bag of Hill’s cat food
and a ball launcher is on the house, with the
purchase of any 18kg bag of Hill’s dog food.
This offer is exclusive to the SPCA Vet Shop in
Plumstead.
TOY TIME WITH HILL’S
Megan Hagglund, the SPCA Vet Shop
sales assistant, certified animal behaviourist
and puppy trainer, recently opened up a
puppy training school sponsored by pet
nutrition experts, Hill’s. Classes are held at
the SPCA Vet Shop, (6 Gabriel Road,
Plumstead) on Saturday afternoons between
2 and 3pm. For more information or to book
a spot for your puppy in the next class,
email Megan on [email protected]
or call 082 303 0391.
Ashleigh Stephan, Russell Clegg and
Debbie Scott celebrated their pooches’
puppy school training graduation at the
SPCA Vet Shop on 7 July 2012
PUPPY SCHOOL A “BEAR” NECESSITY
Rogz’ new multi-purpose leash has
six useful functions in one. Use as a long,
medium or short leash, or as a shoulder leash for
a relaxed walk. It can also be used to attach your dog to
a nearby pole or bench, should you need to keep him or her
secure for short periods. Finally, the double-leash function allows
for two dogs to be walked at the same time. Choose from a
variety of colours, these leashes are available from the SPCA Vet
Shop at R84 each.
MULTI-TASKING MADE EASY
5
6
SPCA HEROESOver 50 volunteers spent 67 minutes and more at the
Cape of Good Hope (CoGH) SPCA on 18 July in honour of
former state president, Nelson Mandela’s 94th birthday.
Twenty-three South African Navy officials and 13 Metro
Police officers traded their uniforms for overalls and got
their hands dirty in the society’s Horse Care Unit and
kennels. Also volunteering was Shireen Salie who won a
charity competition through her employer, Woolworths in
Blue Route Mall. She handed us a donation of R1 000
from Woolworths and spent her day volunteering in our
cattery. Learners of Fairview Primary School in Grassy Park
held a coin collection for 67 minutes on Mandela Day and
raised R1 683.29 for the CoGH SPCA. Staff from the
Milpark Business School in Claremont also visited the
SPCA and brought along dozens of bags of pet food, toys,
treats and blankets for the many animals rescued and
cared for by our society.
Metro Police’s Nomava Gwe and Mandy Lourens
help feed the dogs at the SPCA on Mandela Day
Spreading Madiba magic
Just some of the
amazing people and
companies who made
a difference
July was deemed volunteer month
by 567 Cape Talk radio who, with
the support of the Dis-Chem
Foundation, aimed to encourage
those doing good, to do better and
to inspire others to also give back.
Each day during various time
slots on air, 567 Cape Talk profiled
a volunteer from ten charitable
organisations, one of which was the
Dis-Chem Foundation volunteermonth with 567 Cape Talk
CoGH SPCA. Each organisation
was then encouraged to get their
Facebook fans to like their post on
the station’s Facebook page and
thanks to the CoGH SPCA’s loyal
supporters, the society was one of
four lucky organisations to win
R20 000. The money was used to
purchase much needed medical
supplies for the society’s hospital.
Tin collections help keep SPCA’s doors open
Thanks to the many stores across Cape Town who so kindly display our
society’s coin collection tins, we raised R258, 124.94 for the CoGH SPCA
between January and July this year. The following are the top ten collection
stores:
Amount Tin Location
R 9 377.14 PICK n PAY EXPRESS, NEWLANDS
R 6 648.21 PICK n PAY SUPERMARKET, STEENBERG
R 6 533.90 SUPERSPAR, SEA POINT
R 6 122.56 KWIKSPAR, KUILS RIVER
R 5 385.47 PICK n PAY EXPRESS, MUIZENBERG
R 5 214.62 CAMPS BAY CONTINENTAL FOOD MARKET, CAMPS BAY
R 5 022.73 KWIKSPAR, GREEN POINT
R 4 931.04 ENGEN QUICKSHOP, MEADOWRIDGE
R 4 813.84 SEVEN ELEVEN, STELLENBOSCH
R 4 623.23 KWIKSPAR, MONTE VISTA
COINS FOR A CAUSE
Young girls from Micklefield Primary thoroughly enjoyed doing their
“Coins for a Cause” fundraising drive in August in aid of the CoGH SPCA
and raised a total of R4 285 from donated coins.
Wanna’ help?
There's always a warm welcome
waiting at the CoGH SPCA for adults
and teens over 16 who want to
volunteer. You can choose between
working directly with animals, helping
our fundraising team at our events or
sorting through, categorising and
pricing books in the lead-up to our
book sales. For more information
contact SPCA Volunteer Coordinator,
Juan August at [email protected]
or to help with book sorting contact
Natasha Johannes on
021 700-4141 or email
Cape of Good Hope SPCA
volunteer Di Pelman with
Monty at the SPCA
7
Horse show fun in support of
SPCA
The SPCA Charity Horse Show
celebrates the beauty and
excitement of show jumping in
support of abused and neglected
horses and ponies. This year’s
show will be held on Sunday,
21 October at the Constantia
Valley Riding Club (CVRC) in
Brommesvlei Road, Constantia,
starting at 9am.
Entry for spectators is R10
and entry for children six and
under will be free. Plenty of
secure parking will be available.
For more information visit
www.spca-ct.co.za.
SPCA Wiggle Waggle
Walkathon
Whether you own a dog or not,
the SPCA Wiggle Waggle
Walkathon, which this year takes
place on Sunday, 2 December at
the School for Maths, Science
and Technology on Firgrove Way
in Tokai at 9am, is a must for
anyone who loves dogs! Last
year, just over 1 700 dogs and
2 300 walkers took to the streets
and we are expecting more
people and their dogs to take
part in the 4,5km fun walk this
year. For more information visit
www.spca-ct.co.za.
SPCA Bequest Society and
Donor Recognition Luncheon
Thursday, 6 December
is the date to diarise for this
year’s popular SPCA Bequest
Society and Donor Recognition
Christmas luncheon at the
deluxe Vineyard Hotel in
Newlands.
As places are limited and
expected to fill up fast, please
contact Carol-Ann Brand on
021 700 4150 or email
book your tickets or table today.
......For your Diary
Inspired to make a difference after visiting the Greenpeace ship, Rainbow
Warrior, while it was docked at the V&A Waterfront recently, brothers Sebastian
(6) and Benjamin (3) Nel, literally broke open their piggy banks and donated
their savings of R163.01 to the CoGH SPCA.
Pictured are the boys with SPCA Education Officer, Lucille Boonzaier and
SPCA dog, Carly.
Breaking the bank for a good cause
One of the many roles played by SPCA Inspectors is to monitor abattoirs
in and around the Cape Metropole to ensure that the welfare of animals
reared for consumption is upheld at all times. For inspectors to carry out
this vital work and to be allowed access into these facilities, they require
suitable protective clothing.
After receiving an appeal from the CoGH SPCA for a donation of
protective clothing in July, Foot Wear and Safety Gear Africa in Kensington
didn’t hesitate to assist and supplied the society with three pairs of
gumboots and three white coats to the value of R530.
Specialised gear for inspectors One man’s junk is another man’s treasure
Whether it be second hand clothing, shoes and furniture, crockery, toys or
bric-a-brac, the unwanted goods you donated to the CoGH SPCA’s Charity
Shop raised R 372 000 in the last year. Your donations help to raise funds for
the animals and at the same time helps those less fortunate who regularly
shop at the store.
INSPECTORATE OUTREACH
PROMOTES
STERILISATION
Recently, after receiving a
report about large numbers of
strays roaming impoverished
areas in Hout Bay and
Westlake, Cape of Good Hope
SPCA Inspector Jeroncio
Josephs initiated a mass
sterilisation drive to address
this problem.
On a bi-weekly basis, and as
resources allowed, Inspector Josephs
walked the streets of Westlake
Estate, Hout Bay Harbour and
Imizamo Yethu, educating pet owners
on the benefits of sterilisation, not
only to ensure happy and healthy
pets, but also promote healthy
communities.
Despite receiving an often luke-
warm response from many pet
owners, Inspector Josephs’
determined efforts resulted in him
admitting around 233 animals for
sterilisation at the CoGH SPCA
Hospital in Grassy Park at no cost to
their owners.
“Since the inception of this mass
sterilisation initiative, most members
of the community have a better
understanding of the importance of
sterilisation and the work of the
SPCA. Although there is still much
work and education to be done, we’re
8
pleased that many pet owners have
come forward to request the
sterilisation of their pets and also
seek our advice on other animal
related matters”, said Inspector
Josephs.
“Sterilisation is the most effective
and humane answer to addressing
the problem of uncontrolled breeding
and to alleviate the unnecessary
suffering of thousands of animals in
the Cape Metropole”, he added.
To ensure an even greater impact
in these areas, we require additional
manpower and resources to allow us
to visit these areas more often. If you
can help financially, please email
[email protected]. If you have
experience in working with animals or
have previously volunteered at an
animal welfare organisation and
would like to donate your time,
please contact the SPCA’s volunteer
co-ordinator, Juan August on
(021) 700-4180 or email
Right: Chicco plays with Bruce on
his return from the SPCA while the
boys’ mom, Elizabeth Maljan
thanks SPCA Inspector Jeroncio
Josephs for the SPCA’s help
Carol Petersen cuddles Diamond the cat who had just been
returned to her after being sterilised
Fight against cruelty
On Friday, 27 April, Cape of Good
Hope (CoGH) SPCA Inspector
Michael Herbert received a
grisly report from the SAPS of a
man arrested for allegedly
killing his dog.
When Inspector Herbert arrived at
the SAPS in Lansdowne, the accused
openly admitted to killing his dog and
gave details of the location in
Lansdowne where the slaughter had
taken place.
Inspector Herbert found the corpse
of the severely mutilated dog in a
canal and carefully removed it to the
SPCA in Grassy Park. The body was
then transferred to the State Vet in
Stellenbosch, who performed a
necropsy to determine the exact
cause of death.
Charges of animal cruelty were
laid under the Animals Protection
Act 71 of 1962 and if found guilty
the accused could face jail time or
a heavy fine. The CoGH SPCA has
requested that should the accused
be found guilty, he also be denied
ownership of any animals indefinitely.
“In my three years of service at
the CoGH SPCA, this is definitely
one of the most horrific cases of
animal abuse I have come across.
It is devastating to witness what a
human being can do to an innocent
animal. It’s some relief that as the
SPCA we can take action against
the perpetrator and I hope that
when the case comes to court,
justice is served,” said Inspector
Herbert.
Man accused of killing
his dog charged
with animal cruelty
In an effort to get a realistic overview of the number of animals that
inhabit the Cape Metropole and to better address animal welfare
issues, earlier this year the City of Cape Town rolled out a public
awareness campaign encouraging people to have their pets registered
by the end of August 2012.
Since then the CoGH SPCA has been helping pet owners better
understand the City of Cape Town Animal By-Law and facilitated the
registration of their dogs and cats. The response has been positive and
the City has extended its deadline to 30 September 2012, by which
time all pet owners, not just those with more pets than the prescribed
amount per property, must register them.
For more information on the maximum number of dogs and cats
allowed per property and how to register your pets, visit
www.spca-ct.co.za.
Have you registered
your pets yet?
9
KEY TIPS FOR CANINE CARE
l
l
After washing your
dog, wait at
least three days
before either dipping
him/her or applying
topical tick and flea
treatments. In this
way your dog's skin
would have built up
sufficient natural
oils, essential for the
effective absorption
of tick and flea
treatments.
When dipping your
dog, it is important
not to towel-dry
him/her. Instead
allow his/her skin
and fur to dry
naturally. For optimal
results dipping
products need to be
absorbed by the
skin. Please be sure
to follow the
instructions carefully
and keep bottles of
dip out of children’s
reach.
FELINE FACTS Did you know?
Cats need their food in
small chunks and because
a cat’s jaw can’t move
sideways, they’re unable to
chew large chunks of food.
Please keep this in mind
when feeding your feline
friend.
Cats use their whiskers to
estimate whether or not
they can fit through an
opening. Because their
collar bone doesn’t
connect to any other bone
- but instead sits buried in
muscle - cats are easily
able to squeeze through
tight spots.
l
l
With spring in the air and the days starting to warm
up it may be time to think about giving your dog a
bath. Here are a few key tips to keep in mind after
you’ve washed your dog and want to apply tick
and flea treatments:
For advice on shampoos, grooming products and tick and
flea treatments to best suit your dog, contact our
SPCA Vet Shop team
on 021 761 4463 or 021 700 4161.
10
October is
PET ADOPTION
11
So committed are Hill’s to helping
us increase adoptions, they are
donating R100 for every pet adopted
during October! Plus, each pet will
get a free bag of Hill’s, the food
recommended by veterinarians
worldwide.
“I can’t imagine my children
growing up without animals. Three of
my dogs are adopted and they have
turned out to be wonderful and loyal
companions to my family,” says Hill’s
Marketing Manager, Carla Bath.
“We take our job as match-makers
very seriously,” says SPCA Animal
Care Centre Manager, Margie
Ainscow, whose team collectively has
40 years of experience in helping
Capetonians find the perfect feline or
canine friend.
“In addition to the veterinary
checks, every single dog available for
adoption is behaviourally assessed
and we know each cat’s personality
intimately, which reduces uncertainty
for adopters and helps us
recommend the right pet,” she says.
Adopting a pet also makes good
financial sense. Our adoption fees of
R570 for a dog and R520 for a cat,
includes the cost of sterilisation, first
vaccination, deworming, micro-chip,
an ID disc, and free medical
treatment in the unlikely event that
your pet falls ill in the first two weeks
after being adopted.
“There are so many good reasons
to adopt rather than buy a pet, but
for me it’s the unconditional love they
seem to have for that special person
who chose to give them a second
chance,” says Margie.
MONTHLife’s better shared, especially with a
loving pet adopted from the Cape of
Good Hope SPCA.
Together with Hill’s Pet Nutrition and celebrities including
Jo-Ann Strauss, comedian Kurt Schoonraad and radio and TV
presenter, Liezel van der Westhuizen, we’ve declared October
‘Pet Adoption Month’ to encourage more people to give a dog or
cat a ‘forever home’.
10 good reasons to adopt
l Health - each d g nd t i o a ca s
giv n a full e ri ary exa i ati n e v te n m n o
before going om an the i h e d re s
fre SPCA vete n ry ca in thee ri a re
nl k l even at your pet beu i e y t th
-
co es ck n e f rst two we ks.m si i th i e
l Cost - the adopti n f e of o e
R520 fo a cat and R570 fo r
r a
dog in lu es sterili ti n, first c d sa o
v ccinatio , de o ing, p t a n -w rm e
dentity micro-ch p and ID disc. i
i
l h v o do d tsBe a i ur - all a pte pe
re sse d a e v a a sse by b ha iourist so
y g t e p i th i eou e x ert adv ce on eir l k s
n i ka d d sli es.
l Cho ce - the ’s a great i re
selec ion of bree s and t d
p rso alities cho se rome n to o f .
l Unconditio al love - your n
ad pted pet will be more o
appreci ti e than you cou d a v
l
imagi e.n
l Se vice reat se ice rom r - g rv f
pe ple who rea ly ca about e o l re th
animals a d th people who n e
adopt them.
l a s i e an the nima S ve l v s - o r a l
an k over th sh l r spa e c ta e e e te c
th t yo ha e re ua u v f ed p.
l e gre t exa p e aS ts a a m l th t
e te ni a s m e re t sh l r a m l ak g a
c pa i ns!om n o
l e l g i ’s Fre sma l ba of H ll - a
re u e o m de p mi m p t fo d recom en d
v ts a n e o dby e rou d th w rl .
l e - ch si g e g t peH lp oo n th ri h t
or a yo fa y. f you nd ur mil
Find out more by visiting www.lifesbettershared.co.za or call
the Cape of Good Hope SPCA (on 021 700 4140/4146). Become
a Cape of Good Hope SPCA Facebook fan and/or follow us on
Twitter (@SPCACape) to stand a chance of winning fabulous
prizes from Hill’s Pet Nutrition during October.
Our 2011 SPCA Hill’s “No fun
without your best friend” Dog
Adoption Campaign not only
helped us increase adoptions by
25% but our efforts were
acknowledged by the Public
Relations Institute of South Africa,
who awarded it a bronze PRISM
award in the best NGO campaign
category at their awards
ceremony earlier this year.
Award for 2011 SPCA and Hill’s Adoption campaign
Work has begun on a mass
pet sterilisation pilot project,
which aims to sterilise and
vaccinate 70% of the total pet
population living in Kayamandi
in Stellenbosch by end of
March 2013.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA
(CoGH SPCA), as a member of the
Cape Animal Welfare Forum (CAWF),
has been instrumental in developing
the pilot project, which is being
funded by the Western Cape
Department of Agriculture, the
Stellenbosch Municipality and various
animal welfare groups and private
vets, who have committed their
support. The project is the result of
months of work and discussions
between the CAWF and the Provincial
Administration which, under Premier
Zille’s leadership, has committed
itself to finding long-term solutions
to pet overpopulation within the
Western Cape.
Together with a dog and cat rabies
vaccination campaign, the sterili-
sation project will benefit both
animals and people living in the
community, by reducing the spread of
zoonotic diseases (i.e. diseases
transmitted from animals to humans)
such as mange and worms.
In the first phase of the project, a
pet census was conducted to
determine the actual number of
owned dogs and cats. In total the
team counted 752 owned dogs and
340 owned cats, who along with a
significant number of stray dogs and
cats, will benefit from the programme.
Sterilising over 1000 animals is a
mammoth undertaking and is only
possible with the assistance of various
organisations and local veterinarians,
including the Animal Welfare Society
Stellenbosch, Animal Rescue
Organisation (ARO) and four local
Community Veterinary Clinics.
Together they will aim to sterilise at
least 70% of the pet population within
a six month time frame (i.e. within
one breeding cycle) starting in mid-
September, at an average of 25
animals per day. They will work from
local and remote operating theatres
and ARO’s new Mass Animal
Sterilisation Unit (MASU) will also
be deployed to the area.
However, the success of this
project is not only dependent on the
number of animals sterilised, says
CoGH SPCA CEO Allan Perrins, who is
also Acting Chairman and coordinator
for the project's steering committee.
“It requires community involvement,
support from Law Enforcement
authorities and prioritising humane
education on responsible pet
ownership.”
“We are thrilled that the
community have been so receptive
to the project and with the support
we’ve received from the Stellenbosch
Municipality and from an army of
volunteers and several generous
sponsors,” he said.
“We have also built in an
education component to the project
to promote responsible pet
ownership, which will see the CoGH
SPCA Education Team and the
Humane Education Trust reach out to
local schools to educate learners
about the project and teach children
about responsible pet ownership.”
Said Allan: “It’s this kind of
practical, collaborative approach
that will result in us collectively
making a huge, positive difference to
the thousands of animals we are
committed to speaking, protecting
and caring for, as well as enhancing
the health and well-being of the
community. We look forward to roll-
ing out a similar initiative in the Cape
Metropole in the very near future”.
GUGULETHU GOOD SAMARITAN HELPS INJURED DOG
12
UNITED EFFORT
State Vet and CoGH SPCA Director, Dr. Gininda Msiza (fifth from left) with ward
councillors, volunteer census workers, Law Enforcement Officers and a pet owner
The CoGH SPCA has payed
tribute to a Good Samaritan in
Gugulethu who faxed a hand-
written note to the Society on
25 May, advising them of a
severe case of animal cruelty.
In his note Mlindi Dube wrote:
“I saw a black dog severely
injured… This dog’s right foreleg is
broken in half and there is a long
bone coming from the wound… I find
its cruelty on animals on the extreme.
I want the dog to be helped and the
owner to be charged for ignoring that
poor animal.”
SPCA Inspector Fagan Vollenhoven
responded immediately and found
the male black cross-breed with a
broken leg that had been left
untreated for several weeks, with the
result that the flesh had been eaten
away leaving the broken tibia exposed.
The stench from the wound was
overpowering, but despite the poor
dog being in excruciating pain, he
allowed the Inspector to lift him into
his vehicle. Inspector Vollenhoven
then drove with lights and sirens back
to the SPCA in Grassy Park and
alerted veterinarians who were on
standby to administer pain relief and
assess the extent of his injuries.
“This rates as one of the most horrific
cases of animal cruelty we have
seen in a long time,” said CoGH
SPCA Inspectorate Manager Moyo
Ndukwana. The SPCA has since
laid charges of animal cruelty
against the dog’s owner.
Inspector Ndukwana said that
Mr Dube’s letter of concern shows
that respect for animals is shared
by many, regardless of where
people live and their living
conditions”.
Pilot project addresses overpopulation
13
in front of his hips.
Look and listen - overweight pets
are more prone to shortness of
breath, overheating and stiffness.
If you suspect your pet may have a
weight problem, Dr Fyvie recom-
mends seeking the guidance of a
professional, who can objectively
assess an ideal target weight, correct
nutrition and exercise. “Your vet
should be able to help get your pet
on a weight loss programme, or refer
you to a practice that runs a pet
slimmer clinic. You can also visit
www.petslimmer.co.za to find one in
your area,” he says.
So does that mean we have to cut
out pet treats and tasty morsels for
your feline and canine friends? “Not
necessarily,” says Dr Fyvie. “The
occasional small meat treat is OK,
but don’t over-do it. Just 100g of
boerewors for a small to medium size
dog is equivalent to an adult human
eating 22 mini-koeksisters! In
general, sweets and table scraps are
not balanced foods for dogs or cats
and should be avoided. Chocolate is
a definite no-no as it can be toxic.
Rather use pet treats specifically
designed for that purpose or keep a
few kibbles or the pet’s usual food
for ‘treats’.
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DOES YOUR PET NEED TO
GO ON A DIET?Vets warn that more than half of South African pets
weigh more than is healthy and that obesity not only
decreases lifespan but, more importantly, also
decreases the animal’s quality of life.
According to Dr Guy Fyvie, veterinary advisor to Hill’s Pet
Nutrition, obesity causes a physical strain on the joints,
spine, heart and other internal organs and also affects
many metabolic and hormonal systems in the body, leading
to problems like diabetes, bladder stones, liver damage,
excess blood lipids, skin irritation and even an increase in
the chance of cancer. In addition, he says, it also increases
the potential need for surgery, decreases the success rate
of said surgery and increases the anaesthetic risk.
So, how do you know if your pet is overweight and what
can you do about it? Dr Fyvie explains: “Certain breeds do
seem to be more prone to obesity than others, including
Labradors and Dachshunds.
There are a whole range of assessment tools for cats
and dogs on www.petslimmer.co.za. This includes a Body
Condition Score, where people can use a measure to see
how their own pet weighs up.
Visit http://www.petslimmer.co.za/weight-assessment/body-
scoring to find out more.”
Other signs are:
Look at your pet. If it is significantly overweight it should
be obvious, although long-haired dogs and cats may
‘hide’ fat better.
Do the rib test - when you stroke
your pet’s side you should be able
to feel the ribs underneath the
skin.
Consider the waist view - when
you look at your dog from above
he should have a distinctive waist
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Select a slim-line modelVote for South Africa’s top Pet Slimmers -
October 2012
Mirror, mirror on the wall - who’s the most purrfect of them all? On
1 October voting opens for the 2012 Hill’s Pet Slimmer of the Year. Visit
www.petslimmer.co.za to cast your vote and check out the weight-loss
stories and drastic before-and-after photos of some of South Africa’s former
fattest felines and portliest pooches. The five pets that receive the most
votes by 22 October will each win R5,000 and the overall top dog (or cat)
will be awarded the coveted 2012 Hill’s Pet Slimmer of the Year title.
The Hill’s Pet Slimmer competition is a small part of a campaign to
combat a pet obesity “epidemic”. Veterinarians warn that more than half
their patients weigh more than is healthy, with diabetes, increased anae-
sthetic risk, mobility problems and other life-threatening conditions being
the result. In a bid to shed their ‘killer kilos’, over a thousand cats and dogs
have been signed up on the Hill’s Pet Slimmer programme this year alone.
www.petslimmer.co.za shares pets’ weight loss journeys to inspire
owners to maintain their pet’s optimum weight. Full of useful tools and
healthy eating advice, the site makes keeping your pet in shape easier than
ever. For more information visit www.petslimmer.co.za or speak to your
vet about joining the Hill’s Pet Slimmer programme.
During the release, SPCA Wildlife
Unit Manager, Brett Glasby, spoke to
invited guests, local school children
and members of the media about the
dangers posed by the exotic pet trade
and on the conservation of wild
animal populations in South Africa
and around the world.
“Animals are taken out of the wild
on a daily basis to meet the
international demand for exotic
species as pets or for private
collections. The removal of animals
from the wild ranges from the simple,
yet illegal act of someone picking up
a baby tortoise or other small animal
from its natural environment, to
large-scale, illegal poaching activities
by organised criminals. Disturbingly,
for every animal that ends up in
captivity, many more will die during
capture and transportation, with
often devastating results for the wild
population. The animals that do
survive the transport and their first
few months in captivity are then often
intensively bred to meet the ever-
increasing demand for offspring,
14
On 1 August we celebrated the release of 25 Angulate
Tortoises into suitable wild habitats on the 183 hectare
Diemersfontein Wine Estate in Wellington. The tortoises had
either been rescued from veld fires or surrendered to the
Cape of Good Hope SPCA Wildlife Unit as unwanted pets. It
was wonderful to witness these wondrous creatures being
returned back to a semi-wild environment, especially since
several bear the scars, such as deformed and disfigured
outer shells - of life as an exotic pet. One even had to adjust
to moving about on just three feet after a dog, which used the
tortoise as a chewy toy, bit its foot off!
highlights dangers of exotic pet trade
TORTOISE RE
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29 exotic snakes
21 exotic birds
35 indigenous pet tortoises
4 exotic pet lizards
61 exotic fish
Says Brett: “These statistics are
worrying and if we are to have any
chance of protecting wildlife we need
more people to join us in calling for
wild animals to stay in the wild and to
help us raise awareness about the
dangers of purchasing exotic pets or
taking animals from the wild to keep
as pets.”
lettuce and cabbage are not only
breaking the law but are also being
unwittingly cruel,” says Brett.
According to the Humane Society
of the United States, internationally
the exotic pet trade is a multi-billion
dollar industry, second only to the
drugs and weapons trades in terms of
its gross worth.
And locally the demand for exotic
pets seems to be on the increase
when considering the number of
exotic species rescued by the SPCA
Wildlife Unit over the past year:
not able to find suitable food) or it
can lead to the death of indigenous
animals, which may be outcompeted
for vital resources.
There are also concerns for the
individual animal’s well-being.
“Tortoises may seem like the ideal,
fuss-free pet but they have very
specific nutritional needs and suffer
enormously if kept in isolation or left
alone in the yard for the family dog to
chew on their shell. Those who
illegally pick them up from the
roadside and feed them on a diet of
which are sold into the exotic pet
trade,” said Brett.
He explained that when the novelty
wears off and owners become bored
with their exotic pets or the animal
becomes too large or caring for it
takes too much effort, they are either
handed in to zoos, specialist animal
welfare organisations (like the CoGH
SPCA) or just released into the veld.
“Zoos can only house so many
animals and indiscriminately releasing
exotic pets into the wild will either
result in the animal’s death (as it is
15
Above: Tortoises need a proper
diet and need to be in the wild
Right: Owner of Diemersfontein
Wine Estate, David Sonnenberg
Left: SPCA Wildlife Unit Manager
Brett Glasby and pupils from
Wellington Preparatory prepare
to release the tortoises
Above, Above right and Right:
A Green Tree Python,
a Bearded Dragon and a
Black Crow were recently
surrendered to the SPCA
after their owners
realised that they were
unsuitable as petsTORTOISE RELEASE
16
Join the challenge
Earlier this year 57 cyclists and
13 runners raised over R200 000
for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA
by cycling and running for TEAM
SPCA in the Cape Argus Pick n
Pay Cycle Tour and Old Mutual
Two Oceans Marathon.
Some were race veterans while
others first timers, but all were united
by their love and respect for animals
and a desire to end animal cruelty.
It’s this passion that inspires and
motivates each cyclist and runner to
train and compete in one of Cape
Town’s biggest sporting events and
fundraise for the SPCA - a charity
whose values they share and mission
they believe in.
You too can be part of TEAM SPCA!
It’s open to anyone who wants to
make a difference to the lives of
thousands of animals.
Sign up now to cycle the Cape
Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour and/or run
the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon
for the CoGH SPCA in March 2013. To
find out more visit www.spca-ct.co.za
or contact Natasha Johannes at
[email protected] or call her
on 021 700 4155/41.
TEAM SPCA cyclists at the start of the 2012 Cycle Tour. Back: Hugo Klaasen, Harold Bond, Gerard Reisenberg, Robin Poulter, Christo Potgieter,
Emile Cronje, Carin Swanepoel (Gouws), Hester Oosthuizen, Sonja Leibbrandt, Anita Jansen Van Rensburg, Glen Beckett, Mike Muller, Natascha Van
Dommelen, Louis Van Dommelen, James De Jager Front: Sarah-Jean Wilkinson, Adrian de Waal, Terry-Anne Jacobs
Sponsor of TEAM SPCA’s Two Oceans Marathon running shirts Sponsors of TEAM SPCA’s Cycle Tour shirts
Here’s what some of those who
competed in the Cycle Tour and Two
Oceans Marathon had to say about
being part of TEAM SPCA:-
“I have two rescue Weimaraners (one
of whom I adopted via CoGH SPCA!)
and I just could not imagine my life
without these two amazing dogs.
I ran the Two Oceans ultra-marathon
and then Comrades and received
incredible support from friends, family
and colleagues, all of whom donated
generously to CoGH SPCA. Given the
especially tough weather conditions
we faced running Oceans this year, it
made ALL the difference and gave
me inspiration to keep going!”
Joanna Forlee - top Two Oceans
fundraiser, 2012
“I am doing this to honour my little
dog GUS (adopted from the SPCA)
and to help all other homeless,
unloved and abused animals out
there. A truly remarkable little dog
and companion, Gus has tremendous
courage and gives me great joy,
happiness and love.” Megan Kluyts
“I decided 2012 is the year to cycle
the Argus and I also decided that
while I am doing it I can just as well
support an organisation in need and
the SPCA jumped into my head
immediately. I was helped a lot in my
fundraising efforts by my wife who is
an artist and donated a beautiful
painting for me to auction. We raised
R19 500 from the auction that was
split between me and my cycling
friend Robin who is also cycling for
the SPCA. We trust this money will
help our four legged friends many of
who suffer due to us humans.” Emile
Cronje - top Cycle Tour fundraiser,
2012
“Two reasons encouraged me to join
TEAM SPCA. Firstly this is a great
opportunity to raise funds for a
favourite charity and secondly it gave
me a good kick in the behind to get
going and actually enter the Pick n
Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour as I
probably would never have done so
otherwise” Lindy Croxford
“Animals are our friends - we need to
help them because that’s what
friends do.” Juanita Krog
“I am proud to say that I supported
TEAM SPCA at the Argus and appeal
to others to get involved in these fun
fundraising initiatives.”
Wendy Pope-Ellis
TEAM SPCA member Chris van Heerden at the SPCA Horse Care Unit
17
Make a difference
Angie Georgiou and Daniel Connor Richard Van Der Heijden James Kent and Bradley Byrne
Izak Fourie
Orlando CairesRoelof Van Wyk DelportRyan Dixon and Brigitte MeyerVictor Moreira
Fahwaaz Cornelius
More photos on page 18 .
Nine of the 13 Team SPCA members Back: SPCA’s Sarah Scarth, Helen Dagut, Warren Fisher,
Craig Ward Front: Marilize Burger, Theresa Mann, Megan Pentz-Kluyts, Joanna Samsonowicz,
Lisa van Leeuwen, Natasha Johannes and Podgie-Pooh and Lucy
18
Richard Kilpert
Luguen Gass
Pierre Jean Rogers
Yolanda Fourie
Phillippus Ferreira
Adriaan Nel
“Protecting animal rights and
preventing the unnecessary suffering
of animals are just some of the
reasons I rode for Team SPCA. The
SPCA has always been close to my
heart and the work that they do is
truly amazing.”
Natascha van Dommelen
“As an animal lover I have always
been a great supporter of the SPCA
and adopted my dog from their
Society. My hope for the future is that
people learn to respect animals and
offer them the love that they
deserve.” Marike Brits
“Riding for Team SPCA was an
obvious choice for me as I have my
own rescue dog Dexter a Sausage
Scotty cross from the SPCA. I admire
the SPCA for the phenomenal work
that they do which was an inspiration
to me during the 2012 Cycle tour.”
Bradley Byrne
“Animals have unconditional love to
offer and we owe it to our furry
friends to do the same for them.”
Angie Georghiou
“I cannot live a day without being
around animals. I have four dogs, 50
budgies, 40 geese, a potbellied pig,
two horses, a parakeet and eight
goldfish. If all humans could just be
kind to animals or try and help just
“I have five dogs and five cats and all of them enrich my life greatly.
I support Team SPCA because all animals deserve the same respect
love and compassion.”
Richard Van der Heijden
one animal the world would really
start to show real change”
Terry-Ann Jacobs
“I am an animal lover so I appreciate
the magnificent job that the SPCA
does to protect the welfare of all
animals. The SPCA gave me the best
dog ever. Smiley and I would highly
recommend that if you are looking for
a pet that you adopt from the SPCA.”
Hester Oosthuizen
“Loving animals makes us better
people and there can’t be many that
love them more than those who work
for volunteer at or donate to the
SPCA. So to my donors and those
that I met on my SPCA tour thanks
for turning your compassion into
action. It speaks volumes about who
you are.” Theresa Mann
“What a wonderful feeling - a
personal achievement made that
much more special because it has
benefitted dozens of sick abused and
abandoned animals being cared for
by the SPCA! The support we received
from the SPCA was great and the
generosity and encouragement from
our friends and family really made
training for this big race that much
more do-able! Great feel-good factor
- highly recommended!”
Sarah, Helen and Lisa
1319
From testimony received from one
of the detained suspects, the CoGH
SPCA has established that individuals
involved in exporting dogs to Angola,
scour internet sites like Gumtree,
looking for suitable dogs aged
between five months and two years
to either buy or ‘adopt’. After the
dogs are acquired they then have to
endure a four to five day journey
usually by road, in the back of a
“bakkie” or dog trailer from Cape
Town to Angola. Once in Angola the
animals are sold onto buyers, some
of whom place an order for a specific
dog breed, age and sex. It is still
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Don’t breed and offer puppies for
sale via sites like Gumtree, as it’s
difficult to guarantee where the
dogs will end up.
Don’t buy puppies from internet
sites such as Gumtree - rather
adopt and give a rescued animal a
second chance.
Before parting with your dog or
puppy, please ensure the bona-
fides of the new owner / buyer.
If at all suspicious do not hesitate
to contact the SPCA and defer or
cancel the sale.
The CoGH SPCA also warns pet
owners to protect their pets from
thieves who may be stealing dogs
and selling them onto dog traders
operating between South Africa
and Angola.
Permanent identification: Have
your dogs micro-chipped to ensure
that they always carry their owner’s
unclear whether the dogs are sold as
pets, into the security business, for
breeding purposes or used in organised
dog fights.
The CoGH SPCA recommends that
owners take the following steps to
protect their pets from unscrupulous
persons:
If you can no longer keep your dog,
it is safer to place him or her into
the care of a reputable animal
welfare organisation like the SPCA,
who will work to find the animal a
good, safe new home, rather than
advertising your pet as “free to a
good home”.
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details. A microchip is a grain size
chip that is painlessly inserted
under the skin of the animal and
when read by a scanner, will
provide the owner’s name and
contact details. It’s a simple, non-
invasive procedure that could turn
your lost pet into a found one. The
SPCA recommends that dogs also
wear a collar and dog tag with their
owner’s contact details.
Daily care and pet supervision:
Pet owners should book their pets
into a reputable boarding kennel or
secure a house/pet sitter to care
for them when the owner is
travelling away from home.
Secure property: Dogs that are
allowed to stray and roam freely
are more vulnerable to being
stolen than those that are kept
safe and secure inside a fenced
property.
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Web sites used to source
DOGS FOR EXPORT warns SPCA
In the wake of the arrests of individuals suspected of being
involved in the illegal export of dogs from South Africa to
Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe, the Cape of Good Hope (CoGH)
SPCA has warned pet owners and breeders against using web
sites such as Gumtree to advertise puppies and dogs for sale or
“free to good homes”.
Photo by Ross Jansen
20
MUTT OF THE YEAR TEAMS UP WITH PREMIERIn an effort to teach children about
responsible pet care and encourage
them to exercise with their pets, the
Cape of Good Hope (CoGH) SPCA
Royal Canin Mutt of the Year ‘Bear’
and a local dog agility club performed
an agility demonstration for over 100
children who attended the Western
Province Athletics Federation Holiday
Camp on 5 July at the Vygieskraal
Stadium in Athlone. On the day,
Western Cape Premier, Helen Zille,
attended the event in her capacity as
Patron of the SPCA, to inspire the
children to care for and have respect
for all living creatures.
The children are pictured with
(from left) Western Cape Premier
Helen Zille, Lee-Anne Curtis-Cox with
Bear, SPCA Animal Centre Manager,
Margie Ainscow and Royal Canin’s
Louise McQueen.
SPCA and Royal
Canin highlight
benefit of exercising
with your pet
Old Mutual Staff Volunteer Fund TrustThe CoGH SPCA was overjoyed to
receive a generous donation of
R28 300 from the Trustees of the
Old Mutual Staff Volunteer Fund
Trust in June this year to put
towards vehicles costs, printing and
stationery expenses for the SPCA
Ani-Pals programme, that educates
school learners about responsible
pet care. Throughout the year, the
SPCA Education Team teaches
school children about responsible
pet care, animal welfare principles
and the goals and mission of the
SPCA.
Education Officers visit pre-
schools and primary schools
throughout the greater Cape Town
area to give talks, show DVDs and
present the SPCA’s Ani-Pal Edu-
cation programme, which includes
an interactive puppet show and the
handing out of classroom activity
booklets. The puppet show, aimed
at grades 2 to 5, teaches learners
about the importance of the five
Ani-Pal care rules: food and water,
shelter, health, exercise and
sterilisation.
As part of our Ani-Pals education
programme, school children from
impoverished communities are also
encouraged to bring their pets for
free sterilisation and parasite control.
International Animal Week-Ribbons now on sale
The task of preventing cruelty to
animals continues to be a huge
challenge for the SPCA and each day
those of us who care about the
welfare of animals stand in awe of
what SPCA inspectors, hospital and
kennel staff go through to improve
the lives of so many animals.
However, none of this would be
possible without your ongoing
support. During International Animal
Week (4 - 10 October), we invite you
to be part of the SPCA Animal Week
Ribbon Sales Drive, which aims to
promote kindness and compassion
and raises much needed funds for all
the animals in the SPCA’s care.
Children play an integral part in
International Animal Week, as
thousands of school children
worldwide actively participate in
various animal-themed activities.
During this time schools across Cape
Town raise awareness of animals by
allowing learners to participate in
“Civvies for SPCA”, which usually
takes place on the last day of the
third term. On this day some school
learners partake in an animal dress-
up day and buy an SPCA ribbon
priced at R5 to show their support.
Seen here are regular “Civvies for
SPCA” supporters Ferndale Primary
Principal Mr. A. Lewis, Grade 2
educator Miss J. Neil and learners
Jordan Gysman, Werner Steyl, Jamie
de Lilly and Aaliah Green.
To purchase ribbons, contact
Lucile, Thembi or René on
(021) 700-4181.
Education news
21
In the early hours of Wednesday,
15 August, the Cape of Good Hope
(CoGH) SPCA Wildlife Unit was
called out by the SAPS to help
rescue a roaming, displaced otter
in Sea Point.
While on patrol in the area, SAPS
officers spotted the wild animal
moving under cars in Mercaneen and
Conifer Roads, but soon lost sight of
the animal due to bad weather
conditions and cancelled the SPCA’s
call out.
Later that evening, members of the
public were surprised to find the otter
hiding in a local restaurant and
immediately alerted the SPCA.
For two hours SPCA Inspector Brett
Glasby, aided by the police and
concerned members of the public,
played cat and mouse with the adult
male otter, which was eventually
trapped, unharmed although distress-
ed by the ordeal. “We suspect he
may have come from the Urban Park
in Green Point,” said Brett who added
that it’s not uncommon for otters to
stray from their families and wander
into nearby residential areas. “In the
last year we have rescued six otters
in areas such as Hout Bay, Kalk Bay
and even in Athlone,” he said.
The otter was taken to the SPCA’s
new Short Term Wildlife Care Facility
in Grassy Park, where he received a
health check and will shortly be
released at a suitable location.
“Sadly we cannot release him back
where he came from because
chances are that he would be forced
to disperse again, probably by a
younger male otter,” said Brett.
The SPCA has cautioned the
public to avoid trying to catch injured
and distressed wildlife, as this may
cause the animal to panic and put
them at risk of going into stress
induced shock.
Rather keep an eye on the animal
and immediately contact the CoGH
SPCA Wildlife Unit on
021 700 4158/59 or after hours and
over weekends on 083 326 1604.
Responding to a call from a concerned member
of the public, SPCA inspectors made a rare find
on Tuesday, 28 August, when they picked up a
two-year-old male meerkat in Loevenstein.
Also known as suricate, these highly gregarious
animals live in large social groupings with a definite
social hierarchy. While they primarily feed on insects, the
meerkat diet also includes lizards, snakes, spiders and
plants.
Says SPCA Wildlife Inspector Brett Glasby, “While
meerkats can be found all over South Africa, very few
are found in Cape Town. This one in particular was far
outside its natural distribution range and it was
immediately clear by the animal’s behaviour that it had
been hand-raised.
“Made popular by the movie ‘The Lion King’, meerkats
are often desired as household pets. However, due to
their high social needs and aggression upon reaching
sexual maturity, these are not ideal animals to keep as
pets. In fact it is illegal to keep a meerkat as a pet in the
Alert supporter helps save meerkat
Western Cape. Only permitted
facilities may keep them.”
While the owner did come forward
to claim the meerkat, the SPCA could
not return the animal as the owner
didn’t possess a permit.
After being in the care of the SPCA
Wildlife Unit team for just under a
week, the meerkat was taken to a
sanctuary at the instruction of
CapeNature, where he will undergo
long-term care and spend his time in
the company of other meerkats.
Should you ever encounter a
meerkat, other than attempting to
corner or catch the animal, contact
the SPCA’s Wildlife Unit on
021 700-4158/4159 or after hours
and on weekends on 083 326 1604
immediately.
Photo
by Te
rri-Leigh
Boonza
ier
Wildlife Unit Update
ROAMING OTTER IN SEA POINT RESCUED BY SPCA
Photo by Terri-Leigh Boonzaier
Happy TAILS
22
Ever wondered what happens to
animals once they have been rehomed
by the SPCA? Here are a few happy-
ever-afters to warm your heart!
Sunny ending for Sandi
Sandi came to the SPCA as a
rescue dog in March 2012. Our
kennel team knew that someone
would fall for her happy and loving
disposition, but they had to be
patient to find her happily-ever-
after ending. That came in August
when she was adopted by David
Kimberley and his partner
Agnieszka Polaska, who shared
this with us:
“Agnieska and I wanted a dog to
choose us and pretty much right
from the beginning we took a
mutual liking to Sandi. When I
stroked her she enjoyed it. She
looked at me longingly with her
beautiful eyes saying ‘please take
me home’. This is how I knew she
was the one!
“Sandi has such a special and
unique personality, full of love and
loads of energy. Her hobbies
include lying on the couch and
watching TV on her back, running
on the beach and playing ball.
She’s so smart she’s even started
to understand Polish! Our girl has
picked up on many commands
and loves orders like ‘let’s dance’
during which she will stand up and
put her front paws in our hands.
“Thank you, SPCA. We love
Sandi so much that we can’t
imagine our home without her
happy face! We are so grateful to
have her in our lives.”
Long road ends in
happiness for Lady Lea
When she arrived at the SPCA in
September 2011, Lady Lea was
found in a neglected and
emaciated condition. She looked
like a bag of bones and her front
hoof was badly split. Under the
care of the SPCA Horse Care Unit
she was restored to health and
adopted out to a new owner who
continued the treatment, but
recommended she be re-adopted
to a home environment. Lady Lea
found her happily-ever-after in July
2012 when she met her current
owner, Marietjie Stander, who
shared this with us:
“I’m the principal of a school in
Bellville, for children with special
needs. We use horses for therapy
and since we had only one horse
and the number of children at the
school had increased, we knew
what the best option was.
“When we visited the SPCA we
were very happy with Lady Lea as
well as her lovely temperament,
which we knew would suit our
school. And the rest, you could
say, is history. We are now slowly
introducing her to our children
and since her arrival, Lady Lea
has settled in nicely. The children
are very impressed with her name
as one of the other horses is
called Prince Rupert. Now we
have royalty on the farm!”
Rescued lone ranger
finds his match
Bobby (formerly known as Major)
came to the SPCA in July 2012 after
being rescued as a stray on Table
Mountain. When his owners couldn’t
be found he was put up for adoption
and in mid-August his lovely
temperament paved the way to his
new home in Sea Point.
“I absolutely fell in love with Major
when I saw him and read his
description on the SPCA website,”
said Colleen Freeland who’d made a
promise to herself to adopt a dog
once she had settled into her new
home after relocating to Cape Town
from Johannesburg. “I've had animals
all my life and when I went in and
met him, my belief that he was the
dog for me was further confirmed.
I’ve renamed him Bobby and
amazingly this obedient boy
responded to the change almost
immediately. There's simply no other
way to describe him than as a little
gentleman. We go for walks twice a
day and when he doesn’t accompany
me to work he’s pampered at home
by my niece. Behind Bobby’s
gorgeous brown eyes is an amazing
little personality. He’s a real
mommy’s boy and I wouldn’t have it
any other way.”
Purring pair a package
deal
When Meghan and Peter Tucker
visited the SPCA towards the end of
July, looking to adopt a cat, they
didn’t expect to pick up a ‘double-
deal’:
“After our cats died, we came to
the SPCA looking for a new addition
to our family. There we found Gina -
a tortoiseshell who closely resembled
one of our old cats and her
roommate Spikie, a small adult
tortoiseshell. While we were getting
to know them in their cubicle, a
couple peered in through the viewing
pane, said "No, too ugly" and walked
away.
“While Gina and Spikie may not
necessarily impress judges of a
beauty contest, they simply ooze
character, warmth and love. They
bound around like kittens, taking
turns to chase each other around
our house in Noordhoek.
Spikie is always keen for a game of
tag while Gina ‘talks’ when she wants
attention. Spikie also enjoys ‘sunning’
herself on top of the budgie cage.
These two “ugly ducklings” have
brought so much joy and happiness
to our home and have taken to
sleeping next to our daughter, Jenna
and son, Andrew. What amazes us is
that Spikie was constantly overlooked
for nine months while she waited to
be adopted. Those who came looking
to adopt kittens or “good-looking”
adults certainly missed out by
overlooking these two lovely cats!
Your legacy can help to create a better future for animals
Cape of Good Hope The Cape of Good Hope SPCA Bequest Society
For further information please contact:Bequest and Major Donor OfficerCape of Good Hope SPCA, P.O. Box 3, Plumstead 7801Tel: 021-700 4150, Fax: 021-705 [email protected]
Please remember us through a bequest in your Will and let us know so that we can thank you and welcome you into our special Bequest Society.
Please,leave your lovewhere they will find it....
Please,leave your lovewhere they will find it....