The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Johannesburg, believes that animals, as living creatures, have value beyond economic measurement, and are entitled to legal, moral and ethical consideration and protection.

 

The Johannesburg SPCA’s mission is to act as an advocate on behalf of animals, to obtain rights for them and to protect and enforce those rights. To provide for the well being of the animals in our area who are abandoned, injured, subjected to unfair or cruel treatment or otherwise in need. To cultivate in the people of our community an awareness of the animals whose world we share and to instil respect for and appreciation of all living things.  To assist indigent, elderly and underprivileged people of our community by providing subsidised health services and support for their pets.

The Johannesburg SPCA (JSPCA) has been serving its community and hundreds of thousands of homeless, sick and abused animals for 103 years. It was established in 1902 with the mission of protecting all animals, great and small, from cruelty of all kinds.

 

As the protector of the defenceless and a voice for those that cannot speak for themselves, the JSPCA came from humble beginnings. It now serves the greater Johannesburg area, including Soweto, offering a wide range of animal protection and welfare services.

 

The JSPCA has extensive permanent facilities at its headquarters in Reuven, Johannesburg South, from where, amongst other things, it operates the city pound. The JSPCA is a non-profit organisation and receives no government funding! It therefore depends solely on donations from animal lovers to fund its valuable work. Without the JSPCA over 40 000 animals a year would have no one to depend on for much-needed care.

 

A shift in municipal boundaries has changed the JSPCA’s fundraising area, and as a result, it has lost its more lucrative fundraising areas and has poorer areas to service.

 

We, as the Johannesburg SPCA, are permanently trying to alleviate the plight of unfortunate animals. We value your interest in animal welfare and ask that, in whatever way you can, please help us, to help those who cannot help themselves.

The Johannesburg SPCA has embarked on a pilot project in Glenesk, in an attempt to assist indigent community members to vaccinate, de-worm and sterilise their pets.

 

Many community members in Glenesk, one of the suburbs that fall under the jurisdiction of the Johannesburg SPCA, cannot afford to vaccinate and sterilise their pets. As a result, a high number of unwanted puppies and kittens land up at the JSPCA.

 

In an attempt to lessen these numbers and assist the indigent community, the JSPCA has launched project R.I.T.A in the area.

The greater Johannesburg area, including Soweto.

As one of the largest animal welfare organisations in South Africa, the JSPCA is affiliated to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), which in turn, is the largest animal welfare organisation in the world.

 

The JSPCA is one of 104 individual SPCA’s of various sizes operating throughout the country and is a member of the National Council of SPCA’s of South Africa.

To prevent cruelty to animals.

Animal hospital

The Johannesburg SPCA has provided a subsidised veterinary service to the indigent and underprivileged citizens of Johannesburg for over 50 years. A minimum of 12 000 animals are helped by our hospital each year – those belonging to the unemployed, pensioners and those that have no owners.

Our philosophy has always been to provide a professional service, despite the inability of the owners to pay full fees. Because of our quest to provide the best possible treatment for our patients, we have developed a modern, well-equipped hospital, which was nominated as one of the top five veterinary hospitals in South Africa for 2001.

 

We are also recognised as a teaching hospital by veterinary faculties locally and abroad.

 

Our animal hospital is a place of compassion, love and healing where intensive care is given to the very ill. Our dedicated veterinarians save animal lives daily and are on call 24-hours.

 

Kennels department

The Johannesburg SPCA’s kennels are a place of love and safety for over 300 homeless, sick and abused animals. It is an ongoing struggle to find loving homes for so many animals and until a home has been found for them, and the potential property owners checked, it is our responsibility to care for and feed them.

 

The cost of feeding and caring for over 300 animals a day is extremely expensive and continually drains our funds. Wherever possible, corporate sponsors of pet food are secured to keep our pet food bill to a minimum.

 

Before an animal is homed, it has to be spayed or neutered and the correct inoculations given.

Inspectorate department

Fighting cruelty to animals is a fulltime job! Our inspectors have to undergo various courses, including the National Council of SPCAs training course which is compulsory and where strict exams are set.

The inspectorate department deals with prosecutions, court cases and investigates cruelty complaints on a daily basis. The inspectors themselves prepare dockets. As a rule, the Johannesburg SPCA will put education and help first, before prosecution. However, often an inspector is left with no option but to lay charges under the Animals Protection Act.

Our inspectors are always ready to uphold the law and to prevent cruelty to as many animals as possible.