NSPCA newsletter

E-NEWSLETTER

10 MARCH 2010

YOU DID IT - FOR THE ANIMALS!

We are delighted to report that R10 000 has been raised THANKS TO YOU! In a previous newsletter we asked you to look out for the MY SCHOOL initiative whereby people could vote for their favourite charity. The N SPCA qualified by being in the MY SCHOOL top 20 charities. We asked you to vote - and vote you obviously did as we heard on 08 March that the N SPCA had been "voted as the most favoured charity." A tremendous initiative and a result that will benefit animals. It made our week.

 

FARM ANIMAL UNIT

Bundu Pet and Bird Farm.

We report an outcome to the case against the Bundu Pet and Bird Farm near Standerton in Mpumalanga against whom criminal charges were laid in March and June 2009 after we found a half-eaten hamster in a cage, inadequate shelter for the pigs, filthy dirty conditions, no water supplied for anybody: - and this was supposedly an educational farm!

The owners entered a guilty plea. The N SPCA requested that no plea bargain be entered into due to the seriousness of the matter and this was accepted by the Court. The owners will be sentenced on 15 April. Let's hope the punishment metered out will fit the crime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DE DEUR SALEYARD

The cow pictured was found at the saleyard in De Deur and was being sold to a new owner. N SPCA personnel were disgusted at the obvious pain and discomfort that the animal was in. She had given birth the previous day. The farmer had waited for her to "produce" before getting rid of her. We emphasise the distress to both calf and mother plus the welfare implications of separating them so early. The owner of the cow called the Daleside veterinarian out who stated that she was not suffering but had a calcium deficiency and was fit enough to be transported but needed to be milked. Or if she wasn't going to be milked she needed to be humanely destroyed.

Where is compassion?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE OSCARS

The N SPCA is in touch with the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) regarding the horrific slaughter of dolphins in the Faroe Islands. We have reported on this issue in a previous newsletter. The winner of the Oscar for best documentary "The Cove" focussed on this matter and so now there is world-wide publicity on an issue that the director pledged (as he received the Oscar) to put an end to. This is tremendous news as now the eyes of the entire world are on the horrific practice.

We'll keep you updated but in the interim, www.wwspa-international.org.uk is the best place to check for updates. We note that another finalist for the Oscar in this category focussed on the production methods of food: - factory-farming of animals. Isn't it heartening that these issues are coming to the fore internationally and receiving such recognition?

 

UPDATE ON RECENT INTERNATIONAL PIGEON RACES

The SUN CITY MILLION DOLLAR PIGEON RACE was held on 30 January 2010 and we monitored it from basketing to liberation at Hopetown, a distance of 568 km. Of concern is that of the 3 150 birds released to date only 1 650 have returned (52.38%). By contrast, the ALLFLIGHT CARNIVAL CITY RACE released 510 racing pigeons at Gariep Dam and 419 birds have returned (82.15%).

 

INVITATION TO ADDRESS NATIONAL AGM

We are very pleased that we have been invited to address the delegates at the South African National Pigeon Organisation (SANPO) annual general meeting with regards to our concerns for the welfare of racing pigeons as well as to motivate for the development of a Code of Practice for Pigeon Racing. The Code would be developed in conjunction with SANPO and would assist in ensuring welfare standards of the sport.

EDUCATION

 

CHARITY CHAMPION

We recently introduced the Charity Champion fundraising challenge, whereby you can be a fundraiser legally for the N SPCA. The challenge was sent to all 1 900 e-newsletter subscribers and we are very pleased to let you know that the first person to take up the challenge is Nichola van Niekerk on the doit4charity website ( www.doit4charity.co.za) - Nichola has set her target at R40 000. Well done and thank you Nichola.

 

FACEBOOK

Are you on Facebook? You can support our Facebook Page which has almost 600 fans at www.facebook.com/nspca and be kept up to date with our activities on a daily basis.

With kind regards

Chris Kuch