What is the main goal of SPCA?

The SPCA stands for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Our inspectors are mandated by an Act of Parliament (APA Act No 71 of 1962 and PAPA No 24 of 1935) to protect ALL animals and uplift their welfare.

How many animals do you currently have at your Midrand branch?

We have anything between 100 – 120 animals at any given time.

What are the daily challenges you face?

One of the main challenges is that most SPCA’s have to work with limited resources and funding on a daily basis. As we rely solely on donors to keep our doors open, we are dependent on these donations to remain operational. We have fuel bills to cover, vet bills, staff salaries, maintenance and repairs and several other running costs that we cannot avoid paying. The SPCA movement plays a critical role in our country as we collectively undertake over 90% of all animal related welfare investigations and prosecutions in South Africa. I think the other challenges that many of us face would be the mental and emotional challenges. Many times these are the unspoken challenges faced in our line of work. Our staff get verbally abused or physically threatened by people who don’t agree with our rules and policies or the law, for that matter. This does not even include how it affects us emotionally when we come upon the scenes of some of the worst cases of animal cruelty…

What can people donate?

Operating funds would always probably be the biggest need, but in many cases some people are reluctant to donate cash for several personal reasons, which we respect. If you don’t want to donate directly to the SPCA, perhaps request a Veterinary bill to pay, or purchase a fuel voucher or offer to cover some other expenses that we simply have to pay on a monthly basis in order to remain operational.

We are and will always be grateful for any donations of food, blankets, cleaning materials, uniforms, etc that will help save us from having to purchase these ourselves and we suggest that donors engage with their respective SPCA’s to establish their biggest needs.

The best blankets to donate are from PEP STORES and are called Stormy blankets – grey with a white stripe. The cheap grey dog blankets one gets everywhere are made from recycled materials and can’t be washed, so are actually a waste.

Banking details:

Midrand SPCA / Nedbank Cheque Account / Acc nr 1686012799 / Branch code 198765

What are your immediate needs?

Our immediate needs are always funds. It’s really tough out there at the moment. While our society has not been directly affected by being looted ourselves, we are having to face the aftermath of what has occurred on our backdoor. Our inspectors and drivers have been out in these areas, where not all is calm as yet, collecting animals that have been injured, running around in fear, abandoned and destitute. It is costing us a lot of money to cover the fuel bills, vet bills and other items needed to care for the influx of animals. Food supply in these areas has been affected by the looting and many owners cannot afford to feed their animals now so we are having to intervene in all of these situations. It has been mentally and physically challenging at best of times, not to mention the risk to our own lives and vehicles when we enter these areas of uncertainty. The public can check with their local SPCA as to what their biggest needs are, but from Midrand SPCA side we also need funds for office space, upgrading our farmyard, storage units and to build our own clinic.

Many people will say to us:  “ I cannot do the work that you do” and we fully understand that. It is heart-breaking work for us on most days, BUT you can help us do the work that we do by supporting us and keeping our doors open. We rue the day when someone needs to do the work, but there is no SPCA left to do it!

Contact details Midrand SPCA

Emergencies – 011 265 9935 (Office hours)   083 441 1564/5 (After hours)

Adoption & Missing Animal/s – 011 265 9935