The White River SPCA is a Non-Profit, Non-Governmental Organisation which receives no financial support from the South African Government. Municipal financial aid is provided in lieu of the services the SPCA renders on behalf of the Municipal Pound. All funds required for the SPCA's work to combat cruelty and educate the public come directly from YOU, the public. This is YOUR SPCA, please support
us so that we may serve you to the fullest. Of all of those Societies, only one is not still functioning today. The rest are fully operational Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It is exciting to realise, from these small beginnings that today, there are close to a hundred SPCAs. Each SPCA is a member of the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) and is fully autonomous, having its own Non Profit Organisation Number (NPO), operating in its own constitutional district and taking full responsibility for its own affairs. The Policy of the SPCA movement is the promotion of kindness. Or in other words, to achieve the goal of preventing cruelty to animals by changing attitudes in a positive way through education and pro active inspections. Cruelty can be prevented by investigating and inspecting cases or situations reported to us. This would include issuing warnings or prosecuting offenders in terms of the Animals Protection Act (71) of 1962. In many cases, the undoubted cruelty, neglect or suffering of an animal has not been the result of a deliberate action by the owner but the result of ignorance and / or lack of resources. Our role is not only to work with these people, to advise, educate and uplift them but also to work towards changing public opinion towards compassionate attitudes and responsible behaviour towards their animals. We are simply not referring to pets or domestic animals – but to all animals. - Adapted using information provided by the NSPCA (Alberton) www.nspca.co.za
