24/01/2025
We at the Alberton SPCA agrees 100%. This is such an amazing post giving insight what it means to adopt a pet and we believe that all SPCA's can relate to this post.
Having an animal baby is a privilege not a right.
We are sharing this post in hopes that people would understand and become aware of the truth, as we meet to many people who doesn't understand the commitment it takes to own a pet or people who simply doesn't care. 💙
Well said Roodepoort SPCA🙌
LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT
When adopting a new family member, it is not a decision which must be taken lightly.
Adopting is a lifelong commitment.
The difference between adopting a human child and adopting an animal child is the human child eventually gets a job and leaves home where as the animal child relies on its family for the rest of its life.
When adopting a pet from the Roodepoort Krugersdorp SPCA families must go through our entire adoption process.
We have to ensure new families and their new fur kids are the right match for each other.
All animals have their different needs and requirements.
A Working dog is extremely active and needs to play and to be kept stimulated if not they will keep themselves busy by digging, chewing, barking etc.
A Power breed needs a family who will train them to be well behaved and to have manners. If not, this breed will show you who is the leader of the family. Many, many times we have received phone calls from frantic owners that their Boerboel, Rottweiler Pitbull, Mastiff etc. have turned on them and they are now stuck in their houses with a very aggressive dominant dog outside.
Then you get your Toy breeds, oh so cute but oh so cheeky and snappy. This family member loves being on your lap getting all the love and attention but they can when a younger member of the family tries to pick them up or comes into their space this is when the cheeky piranha comes out, and they can give a nasty nip.
We have very good reasons for our adoption procedures, even thou people think we are being difficult.
The only way to find out if the pet you want to adopt is the right pet is by spending quality time playing with them. Existing dogs and family must also come along and play with them. Personalities clash, humans and animals.
We must ensure we are matching the right dog with the right family. Any adoption must be a lifelong commitment. Our pets have already been abandoned by their previous families, that trauma of being cast aside sticks with them. We have to do everything in our power to prevent it from happening to them again.
Power breed and working breeds must be taken for basic obedience training, this is the best way to forge a tight bond between pet and owner.
Our new families’ homes are visited by one of our Inspectors who checks that the home is safe, secure and suitable for our pet.
Various documents are required when adopting.
Copy of I.D
Proof of residence
Complex permission for the specific breed and rules if applicable
Permission from owner of property if you are renting
Existing pets must be sterilized and vaccinated (A responsible pet owner will sterilize their pets)
Once your pre-home has been approved the new family member will be sent to be sterilized.
Before going home, we ensure they are fully sterilized, vaccinated, dewormed, microchip implanted, and they are given a new collar and ID disc.
Unfortunately, because of all the procedures and policies we have in place in order to make sure we are homing our pets responsibly and because we refuse to skip any of our adoption steps there are always people who bash us and try blackening our name.
But it is ok for people to do this, the Roodepoort Krugersdorp SPCA staff can go to sleep at night knowing that we have done the best we can to ensure our pets are homed to good, loving families.
Adopting families must note that animal cruelty investigations and animal recues cases take priority and if people disagree with this then maybe they should not be pet owners.
All animals which are in our care are only released when we are 101% certain they will receive all the love and care they deserve.
We have to ensure they will live the best life possible.
The animals which are in our care are safe while in our kennels. It is our duty and responsibility to make sure that before we pass them onto a new home that we have done everything in our power to ensure the right pet has been adopted into the right family.
