The Johannesburg SPCA received a letter for a concerned pet owner regarding the injury to her cat by a pellet gun.  Parents please be aware that pellet guns may cause severe injury to an animal and it is illegal to inflict injury on any animal.

Please Remember that animals are sentient creatures and are worthy of respect!!!!!

"On Tuesday my neutered 2 year old male Ginger cat Shumba did not turn up for super – now this is unheard of: So Tuesday 10 Nov  night I walked round the streets calling him. Yesterday I made flyers, my son and friend walked the river in Jukskei Park – and his girlfriend and I went from door to door handing out flyers.

After an hour the boys came home and decided to go and stick the flyers on stop signs ATMS etc. this took an hour. Just as they were packing up, the dog discovered Shumba under the car.  He was obviously in pain so we put him in the garage with water on a cushion in the dark as he was very spooked, we had a look but could not find any physical evidence of injury, except he was in pain so would not allow you to examine him. 

I took him to a Vet in Bloubosrand – and was subsequently phoned and informed that Shumba had been shot with a Pellet gun and that the Pellet has gone into his body and then lodged against his sternum – they are going to stabilize him today – operate tomorrow 13 Nov – then decide as to whether they can save him. 

My question is what type of human being can you be if you can shot a domestic cat – where did he start first with Lizards, frogs, mice, rats, cats, then onto dogs – then the big time people.  What type of message are we giving to our children if they can resort to this. Shumba isn’t a fighter I have even seen a couple of birds duff him up his only problem is he is very curious (curiosity killed the cat) – surely if he was in your property get the hose pipe and spray him – that should discourage him from coming back again. 

I am opening a case up at Douglasdale police station – saying what I am not too sure if they will be interested – surely this is a crime as well. The object of this email is to make people aware that maybe their kids are doing this – cats have feelings as well – in fact all living creatures do. 

Please spread the word."

To everyone at the SPCA, Booysens

I adopted Peter (King) three weeks ago from the Booysens Spca. I thought you might like to know how he is adjusting in his new home. Well, he is an absolute pleasure! He and his new sister Beatrix have hit it off and are to be found tumbling through house and garden at all hours of the day.

They have a marvellous time tearing up couches and any clothing they can find (their toys are kaput!). But they both make up for it each night as they snuggle angelically by my side. Peter especially loves his long walks at Emmarentia Park. On lonely days I let him off his leash and with his long legs he looks like a frolicking gazelle across the countryside (but never strays too far).

All in all Peter is a wonderful dog. He is amazingly well-behaved and has already learnt to sit for his treat. He is gentle and friendly with humans and dogs alike. I can rely on the fact that he will be there for a pat and a stroke at regular intervals, in fact he seems to make sure I’m never out of eyesight.

It is all thanks to you at the SPCA who have helped rear this special animal. Upon meeting Peter, people can’t believe it when I tell them he spent 3 months at the SPCA. It is as if he has been in a loving home all his life. Clearly, he has.

Thank you!

Jessica Webster

On Friday - 7 August 2009, a JSPCA 1400 Nissan Bakkie was stolen from outside a property in Rosettenville while the JSPCA inspector was performing a call.  The vehicle was recovered in Lenasia within 45 minutes with the perpetrator inside.  Johannesburg SPCA's vehicles had recently been fitted with SkyTtrax vehicle tracking for security and vehicle management purposes.

The JSPCA covers an approximate area of 700 square kilometres, and a vehicle being stolen, will hinder the valuable work which we perform in our service area.

Thank you to SkyTtrax for their swift response and to the South African Police Services - Lenasia. 

The pollution of our natural water resources caused by various industries and the negative impact on the ecology is well documented and a great concern.  Members of the puplic raised their concerns by complaining about the unacceptable quality of the water in the Krugersdorp Game Reserve.

Dirk van Niekerk, CEO of the Johannesburg & Krugersdorp SPCA's, contacted the relevant authorities enquiring what action is being taken in this regard, which resulted in him being invited to attend working group meetings arrranged by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry as part of a project for the construction of a water pipeline system.

Dirk van Niekerk's attendance of the meetings allow the Johannesburg and Krugersdorp SPCA to monitor and to ensure that the welfare of animals remains a high priority.  An alternative source for the supply of water to the game reserve as a temporary intervention has been agreed on.  "We will ensure that appropriate action is taken!" Dirk promised.