Our open admission policy includes animals from other welfare organisations

If 20 350 animals sounds like a lot, it’s because it is … and that’s how many stray and surrendered animals are likely to enter the Cape of Good Hope SPCA this year. Around 2 300 of these dogs and cats will come from other animal welfare organisations.

Although some of these organisations claim to have a 100% adoption rate with a ‘no-kill’ policy, it’s a sad fact that dogs and cats from these shelters are also surrendered to the SPCA – because those shelters can’t find homes for them or the animals are not good candidates for adoption. The SPCA’s open admission policy – which ensures that no animal is refused admission under any circumstances – includes pets from other animal welfare groups, and these add to the high number of homeless dogs, cats and other animals already at the SPCA.

Pet over-population remains a tragic, age-old problem: There are too many animals and too few homes – and careless breeding and irresponsible pet ownership remain the root cause.

The excessive number of homeless animals leaves the SPCA with no other choice but to humanely euthanise (‘put to sleep’) pets for whom new homes cannot be found. It’s a heartbreaking – and harsh – reality.

Sterilising more animals is the only way to stem the tide of cruelty perpetuated by uncontrolled breeding and the inadequate enforcement of the Animal Keeping By-law – but the SPCA needs help to cover the cost of sterilisation. You can help – ‘sponsor a steri’ – donate towards a spay or neuter and help stop cruelty.

In terms of the City of Cape Town’s Animal Keeping By-law, it is compulsory to sterilise (spay or neuter) animals at six months of age, unless a permit is obtained from the city for an unsterilised animal.