In April of this year, the SPCA projected that we would admit a total of 20 350 unwanted and unloved animals. The reality has been so much worse. A staggering 23,621 unwanted and unloved animals came into our care last year.
Behind the number are stories of suffering, neglect, and desperation.
“They’re so much more than numbers” says Belinda Abraham, Spokesperson for the Cape of Good Hope SPCA. “They are lives, surrendered, discarded, and betrayed.
The SPCA, as a non-selective open admissions facility, bears the heavy responsibility of taking in every animal brought to our doors. From the public who can no longer care for their pets to other welfare organisations—some self-proclaimed “no-kill” shelters—seeking to offload animals they deem unadoptable – the SPCA is and always has been the only refuge for the unwanted.
Now we’re calling on the entire animal welfare sector to stand shoulder to shoulder with us to resolve the pet overpopulation crisis.
“We are the safety net for animals no one else will help,” says Belinda Abraham. “We see an average of 65 victims of indiscriminate backyard breeding and irresponsible ownership every single day. It’s an endless cycle of suffering, and it’s heart-breaking.”
A Crisis of Compassion
“Nothing unwanted is ever loved,” says Abraham”
And every unwanted animal suffers—whether they are starving on the streets, neglected by their owners, or constantly delivering puppies or kittens into circumstances they themselves should not be in – the truth is harsh – there are too many animals and not enough loving homes.
“We cannot rescue or warehouse our way out of this crisis,” Abraham explains. “Animals are being bred faster than we can rescue, rehabilitate or rehome them and confining animals long-term is unkind and, frankly, cruel”.
The Answer Lies in Prevention
The State of Pet Homelessness Report reveals that millions of pets are homeless in South Africa, with adoption rates from shelters at a dismal 9% for dogs and 19% for cats. Compounding this, 15% of pet owners are considering surrendering their animals in the next year, while backyard breeders continue their indiscriminate breeding.
“We must step in now” says Abraham “and we are”. With active sterilisation drives running concurrently in several communities, the SPCA hopes to end the relentless cycle of unwanted and unloved animals.
Each sterilisation prevents thousands of unwanted animals from being born into a life of suffering.
“Sterilisation is a game-changer,” says Abraham. “Every sterilised pet is a step closer to the world we dream of—a world where every animal has a loving home, and the concept of unwanted is eradicated.”
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A Call to Action
The time for complacency is over. Every pet owner, every animal lover, every community member has a role to play in creating a compassionate future.
- Sterilise your pets: It’s the single most effective way to combat overpopulation.
- Ensure your pets are microchipped and registered on the database of a reputable service provider.
- A collar with the tag ‘I’m microchipped’ can make a huge difference.
- Adopt, don’t shop: Give an unwanted animal a second chance at life.
- Support the SPCA’s work: Your donations directly fund sterilisation campaigns.
Animal welfare is not about warehousing animals. The organisations that do, sell a very false narrative about the state of animal welfare, including the luxury of being “full” which in itself denies the crisis at hand.
Abraham concludes. “Animal welfare is about making ethical, sustainable choices for the greater good. It’s about stepping in before it’s too late.”
Compassionate euthanasia is a last resort, but reluctantly, a necessary one in the face of overwhelming numbers and limited resources. While heart-breaking, it is the only humane choice for animals who cannot be rehabilitated, rehomed, or live free from suffering.
“We didn’t come to put animals down, we came to give hope, save lives, and safeguard them. Sterilisation is so much more than a solution—it’s the answer. It’s the only way to stop animal suffering and reduce euthanasia proactively. We carry this burden of proactively advocating for pet sterilisation because we must, not because we want to,” Abraham explains. “But every sterilisation brings us closer to a future where no animal faces euthanasia.”
No animal should be unwanted, unloved, or left to suffer.
Please step in with us and sponsor a sterilisation today. It’s the single most impactful gift you’ll give to an animal this year.
Prevent suffering before it starts!
To sterilise an animal costs an average of R600. If that’s too high for your budget, enter any amount. Help us Step In to make a difference.
