Inspectorate Department

Animal Cruelty Must Stop. No Animal Should Suffer.

The men and women in the SPCA Inspectorate are on the frontline in our fight against animal cruelty. Every day they face challenging, intimidating and often threatening situations where animals are at risk. In order for them to adequately handle these encounters and ensure that those responsible for animal abuse are held accountable, they must be skilled and trained to rescue animals in distress, issue warnings, seize animals in appalling conditions and instigate legal action against abusive and neglectful owners.

By working closely with the Mayoral Committee of Cape Town, our Inspectorate advises individuals and organisations on Municipal Animal By-Laws, geared to offer increased protection for the rights of animals.

In addition to speaking to hundreds of animal owners on responsible animal care during their daily work, their initiatives included: combating cruelty (including dog fighting and illegal street selling of pets); pro-actively inspecting any facilities where animals are used, housed, farmed or processed. Increasing the number of proactive outreaches in communities and increasing inspectorate visibility in informal settlements around Cape Town.

The SPCA is the only organisation that offers a 24-hour Inspectorate service.

Freedom from Hunger and Thirst

Freedom from Discomfort

Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease

Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour

Freedom from Fear and Distress

Our Inspectorate is comprised of Inspectors, Controllers and Control Officers who respond to approximately 115 animal cruelty/ distress alerts daily (55 000 annually) and operate all year round 24 hours per day.

24-hours a day, 365 days a year, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA Controllers take calls and dispatch Inspectors to investigate reports of animal cruelty.

The 24-hour service Inspectorate with its 21 strong staff complement consists of:

13 Inspectors
3 Trainee Inspectors
2 Field Officers
3 Collection Officers

These men and women service an area of more than 3,200 square kilometres.

This area of operation includes the Cape Town Metropole of 2,400 square kilometres and the Stellenbosch municipal area of more than 800 square kilometres stretching into the Cape Winelands.

The Cape of Good Hope SPCA is not Government funded, and our work on the front lines in the fight against animal cruelty would not be possible without the support of our donors.