MISSION STATEMENT



Preventing cruelty to animals.



HISTORY OF THE NSPCA



The National Council of SPCAs [NSPCA], founded in 1956 as the Federation of SPCAs, is the umbrella body for 97 Societies situated throughout the Republic of South Africa. All of these Societies are autonomous but are governed by The Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 169 of 1993.



The NSPCA was renamed in 1993 when, at the request of the member SPCAs, the body had its own self-governing Act of Parliament passed and signed into existence. It is possible that the SPCA movement in South Africa, may be the only animal welfare organisation worldwide with its own self-governing Act.



A crucial aspect of the Act is that it establishes the SPCA’s locus standi to act on behalf of animals. This means that an SPCA’s authority to enforce animal protection legislation can no longer be challenged in court.



THE WORK OF THE NSPCA



The NSPCA deals with national issues and has four operational units, namely, “Farm Animals”, “Society Liaison”, “Special Projects” and “Wildlife”, which work pro-actively to prevent cruelty.



The NSPCA does not have animal holding facilities and makes appropriate arrangements when necessary with the nearest suitable facility for housing animals.



The NSPCA is also involved in addressing national issues and problems including legislation [laws, regulations, by-laws, codes of practice], providing registered training courses, defining policy, assisting SPCAs and dealing with national disaster relief.



National issues includes but is not limited to:



· Awareness Campaigns

· Community Outreach programmes into impoverished communities

· Compilation of Codes and Regulations

· Development of Units or Standards for the benefit of animals within industries that utilise animals

· Development of Units or Standards to benefit and minimise the use of animals in experimentation

· Disaster response

· Education

· Emergency relief

· Liaison with animal-related industries

· Negotiation at Government and Provincial levels

· Providing Training Courses for Managing Committees on request

· Training SPCA Inspectors



UPGRADING WELFARE STANDARDS



The NSPCA plays an active role in liasing with industries or businesses such as emerging farmers, red and white meat producers, businesses and government departments using security dogs, laboratory animals in schools and institutions and aquaria, to enable the acquisition of knowledge and skills for the benefit of animal welfare principles.



Environmental enrichment for captive animals is also a key objective.



WILDLIFE UNIT



South Africa has a rich diversity of flora and fauna, and the continual growth in interest in the Republic as a destination for eco-tourism and sports hunting [including green hunting and canned hunting], as well as being a source of wild animals for zoos, circuses, game ranches, private collections and the entertainment industry generally, generates welfare problems for the animals.



The Wildlife Unit has been in operation for a number of years, gaining national recognition for its expertise and sound approach to the welfare of wildlife, often being called upon to assist in the resolution of technical and practical problems.



The NSPCA is implacably opposed to sports hunting [green, canned or otherwise], which is simply a cruel manifestation of bloodlust; indiscriminate culling; the use of animals in circuses, exhibitions and entertainment; and zoos that are only in existence to exhibit animals and not to contribute to providing a safety net for rare and endangered species.



AIRPORT INSPECTIONS



Johannesburg International Airport is the main entry and exit point for animals being imported and exported by air to South Africa, and over the last 12 months the Unit inspected the condition of thousands of animals ranging from day old chicks to reptiles, birds, other wildlife and domestic animals.



DESTRUCTION OF ALIEN SPECIES

Currently, Nature Conservation is in the process of eliminating alien flora and fauna from publicly owned land. To this end they have shot and killed 95% of the Himalayan Tahr population on Table Mountain in terms of the Biodiversity Convention that allows for the elimination of species that pose a threat to indigenous animals and environment. Also at risk are the Sambar and Fallow Deer and the NSPCA will endeavour to prevent these animals from meeting the same fate as the Tahrs.



ELEPHANTS



Saving elephants and rhino has been a South African success story. However, in the case of the elephants, the success has led to an over-population of the huge herbivores, which do cause a lot of environmental damage when foraging.



There is a tendency for conservation officials to cull the adults of a herd and sell the sub-adults to animal traders around the world. This practice does lead to elephants going into situations where they suffer because they are incorrectly and cruelly housed, used and handled.



A relatively new concept to South Africa is the introduction of elephant-back safaris, and this also has serious ramifications for the welfare of these gentle animals.



INVESTIGATIONS



Over the past year, the Unit has undertaken 81 investigations [these being just the tip of the iceberg as many cruelty matters go unreported], and filed a number of criminal charges such as a giraffe being shot with a shotgun, a giraffe injured in transit, the manner in which roan antelope were translocated, the condition of birds at a bird park and the feeding of live prey.



PREDATORS



There is a trend towards encouraging interaction between people and captive predator cubs [for a fee naturally]. This does not bode well for the animals, because they reach an age and size where they can no longer be trusted with people. This makes them ideal fodder for green hunting and canned hunting which take place in enclosed bomas or areas, because they are acclimatised to the presence of people and are easy to find and shoot.



In other words, by supporting animal centres that encourage interaction between people and predators, non-violent people could ultimately be supporting sports hunting.



SOME OTHER MATTERS



The Unit lobbied for greater effectiveness to ensure that pet shops abided by the law and did not sell indigenous animals; the Unit lobbied for the gorillas known as the Taiping Four to be returned to the Cameroons; the Unit is usually requested to check wild animals and their facilities at parks and wildlife centres before Magistrate’s will issue licences – the Unit then carries out checks at random times to ensure that the conditions of the licences are being met.



WELFARE STANDARDS FOR WILD ANIMALS



The Unit provides input regularly with regards to various Codes of Practice to eliminate or minimise suffering with regards to game capture, handling, transport and holding. In most instances, the Unit has initiated the process for necessary codes and negotiates their introduction and implementation with the relevant role players.



STANDPOINT



The NSPCA is consistent in its concern for all animals, believing in the protection of animals and of each individual animal regardless of the conservation status of the species. Animals from endangered and non-endangered species deserve protection.



The NSPCA does not use any issue for emotional fund raising. We do not believe it is ethical to base a campaign with the aim of raising funds or publicity for publicity’s own sake on a current matter that is making headlines because of a conservation debate or because the animals involved are “high public profile” – such as rhino or elephant.



We are there for the little guys too. “Culling” is a term not only applicable to elephants. Our attitude, approach, concerns and actions were as consistent when springbok were being culled as they were whenever the issue of culling any other species arose.



Indigenous wildlife includes birds, frogs, butterflies and insects. We take the same consistent approach and monitor any issues that may affect their welfare and we are unafraid to step in if there is exploitation, cruelty or suffering.