Angie Dunn, senior member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said although the organisation wants to carry out its mandate optimally in the southern town of Keetmanshoop, a lack of office space and land prevents them from doing so.
Dunn made this revelation when addressing the community over the weekend during the belated Nelson Mandela Day celebrations in Keetmanshoop. “We are, however, operating from our houses for the past three years, taking in stranded, injured and sick animals after which releasing and give them new owners once treated accordingly,” she explained.
She continued that the SPCA can only assist a limited number of animals at a time due accommodation constrains. “The SPCA did however apply in writing for land or an open space to be availed to them without costs and I personally had a meeting with the chief executive officer whereby our application has been approved in principal, but it ends there with us still waiting on the town council,” she said.
Dunn added that once given the land, the SPCA will construct the facility and kennels from their own budget through fundraisings and by requesting financial assistance from donors.
“We have so far assisted a total of 120 dogs and cats for the past three years and furthermore gave the stranded ones to new owners who first had to ensure us they can properly care for the animals,” she said.
Dunn further noted that animals have certain rights, including the right to food, trust as well as freedom from discomfort (extreme temperatures), pain, injuries and diseases.
“These animals, as our friends, should furthermore be assured they can behave normally and freely as they also want to play, run, not be kept in cages, tied up or assaulted,” she said.
Dunn in conclusion called on business owners, organisations and individuals to assist the SPCA with any donations in kind in order to enable the entity to place its traditional footmark in the town and //Kharas region as a whole.
Approached for comment, Keetmanshoop Municipality Public Relations Officer, Dawn Kruger, said approval has been granted in principal by council to provide land near the town’s horse stables with the provision of water and electricity for free.
“The only condition attached was that the SPCA should bear the costs for renovations and alterations to refurbish the stables into kennels to save the stranded animals, but they never came back to us, hence the dead end reached,” Kruger explained.