E-NEWSLETTER
13 JANUARY 2010
WILDLIFE UNIT
The Draft Norms and Standards for the Regulation of the Hunting Industry in South Africa (published in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act 10 of 2005) were circulated for public comment by the Department of Environmental Affairs. The Wildlife Unit has provided welfare input into these Norms and Standards as with other pieces of legislation promulgated by the Department of Environmental Affairs. This is an important part of the Unit's functioning because of the long-term impact this has on the welfare of animals.
WARNING - INTERNET TRADE IN ANIMALS
The N SPCA continues to receive calls from individuals who have responded to advertisements for animals on various web sites. These may involve the offer of a free animal or the sale of animals (including wildlife) at a ludicrously low price. Once an individual is in communication with the people who placed the advertisement, "unexpected expenses" suddenly appear such as customs duties, transport fees or whatever the latest excuse may be. The animals do not exist.
Interpol is aware of the scam and has advised us that the people involved are dangerous and have not as yet been traced. Their advertisements vary and tend to move from web site to web site.
The N SPCA finds it difficult to understand how anyone would order a pet over the Internet. Surely when adopting an animal, you would want to meet it, check the conditions where it was born etc. The official policy of the SPCA movement in South Africa is to oppose the trade of animals on the Internet - for good reason.
Please be warned for the animals' sake and also to take away the opportunities currently being taken advantage of by exploiters.
FAROESE WHALE HUNT/S
The N SPCA continues to receive mails regarding the Faroese pilot whale hunts. The number of whales being killed has reduced over the last decade and between August 2007 and January 2009 no hunts took place at all. But the hunts have not stopped.
The N SPCA is a member of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and we have given formal support to WSPA for a meeting with the Faroese authorities noting however that Faroese people are resistant to being told what to do by foreigners. The meeting would be between welfare organisations and the Faroese home rule government to explain to them the volume of letters and emails received on this subject, including many people who have said they would like to go on holiday there but chose not to because of the risk of seeing a hunt. Please note that this issue is ongoing and long-term.
JUST FOR INTEREST
The name Bernice Dyer may be familiar to you as the Chairman of the SPCA in Zimbabwe. She has now moved to South Africa and is the Society Liaison Unit's Manager at the N SPCA.
She's also an amateur archaeology sleuth and her most recent find is a lead dog tag dated 1899 (badge number 1313) with the old coat of arms and "Municipality Port Elizabeth" on it. The dog tag was found in the dunes in Port Elizabeth. There's a moral here too. We continue to promote identification and here is evidence that back in the 18th century Port Elizabeth's residents were already doing just that!
SUGGESTION
Please remember that lemons make lemonade! Unwanted or unsuitable Christmas gifts can be sold or raffled by your local SPCA to raise valuable funds to help animals.
When clearing out items such as toys, clothing, household goods, CDs, gardening tools (even plants and seedlings), please don't forget your local SPCA. These items can be turned into useful income.
Just imagine ~ if everyone donated a single carrier bag of goods, what a difference it would make. My fussy pets turned up their spoilt noses at their pre-packaged Christmas "treats" so guess who is going to benefit from these items?
Until next time
With kind regards
Chris Kuch
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