Beware of SPCA imposters
The NSPCA has released an urgent warning to the public to beware of impostors - any individual untruthfully claiming to be from, representing, or employed by an SPCA.
The Advertiser was recently approached by a man and his girlfriend (their names are known to the Advertiser), who claimed she is the chairwoman of the Boksburg SPCA and that they stopped a bestiality incident as it was happening.
The claim that the woman was the chairwoman of the Boksburg SPCA was false, as the local chairwoman is Alta Gobey, and the SPCA notes that they do not know who the woman is.
The man alleged that he and his girlfriend stopped the bestiality attack, collected evidence, and that the case was logged with the SPCA and the local police station.
He also said they had to take the animals to a veterinarian and have them euthanased due to the extent of their injuries. The man further asked the Advertiser to “make an example of this man”.
When the Advertiser approached the local SPCA about the alleged incident they knew nothing about it, and are further investigating the claims.
However, to ensure that the public know who the SPCA representatives really are, they can be spotted wearing the official uniform when on duty, with registered insignia, will be in possession of formal identification and will not be afraid of anyone verifying that they are who they claim to be and that they are in the employment of the SPCA in question.
Inspectors will carry magisterial authorisation for that area.
“Above all, please do not hand over animals to anyone claiming to be from the SPCA without checking first,” explains NSPCA spokesperson Christine Kuch.
“Some time ago, there was a confirmed report of individual collecting unwanted animals in a white van.
“People assumed this was the SPCA, as the term is often used loosely to refer to welfare organisations, but this was not the case.”
When animals are involved, the matter becomes extremely serious and the public is urged to be extremely vigilant.
Impersonation is a serious offence and measures have been put in place to trace and apprehend the individual/s doing so.
In the meantime, the SPCA asks everyone to be sensible and alert.
“Even if an individual gives a telephone number to ring, ensure it is the actual number of an SPCA,” Kuch says.
We urge everyone to have the number of their local SPCA on their cellphone, so this ought to be straightforward.
Reports of suspicious behaviour of this kind can be phoned through to 011 907 3590 during office hours, or faxed to 011 907 4013 or e-mailed to pr@nspca.co.za.
