As December marks the busiest time for the SPCA, the Kariega branch recently received a donation of close to R13,000 from Concept Crew Car Club (CCCC). The donation was divided into two parts: R10,500 for animal food and the rest towards other needs of the SPCA, such as medical supplies.
CCCC President Pierre Janse Van Rensburg said that the club donated a portion of its proceeds from the Concept Crew Car Show held earlier this year to the SPCA. “We chose to delay the donation to the SPCA because we know how much strain the organisation experiences during this time of the year. Often people leave their pets at the shelter when they go on holiday, forgetting that the shelter has its own needs and limited funds to care for all the additional animals.”
Janse Van Rensburg added that this year’s car show, which had over 600 cars and 140 stalls, was a huge success, which allowed them to, in his words, “plough back into the community that supported us during the car show by donating to an organisation that goes above and beyond.”
The CCCC also challenged other car clubs and organisations in the area to match their donation or donate what they can towards the organisation during this festive season. “Even if it is a bag of food, that is fine. Yes, matching our donation is ideal, but even one bag of food is enough. If all car clubs donated one bag, that would be a substantial donation already.”
When asked why CCCC chose to donate a portion of their proceeds to the SPCA for the second consecutive year just in time for the festive season, Janse Van Rensburg said, “People often do not realise how difficult December is for the SPCA. People often go on vacation, leaving their pets behind to be cared for by the SPCA.
The organisation works tirelessly throughout the festive period, looking after these pets without having budgeted for additional animals, on top of those they already have at the shelter. Animals cannot speak for themselves, so we try to do so in our own way by supporting them.”
Believing in this good cause, he added that every year, one reads about lost or missing pets, “so by donating, we hope that this donation can help those animals who will be without their families during this time, and make the lives of those working at the SPCA all the easier.”
The CCCC members are all animal lovers and are passionate about animal welfare, which is why they chose to support the organisation. “When there was no water in the Graaff-Reinet area years ago, we transported water for the animals of that region. So, animal welfare is close to our hearts.”
SPCA Uitenhage’s Deirdré Swift expressed their gratitude for the donation. “We are extremely grateful for this donation and the CCCC’s continued support towards animal welfare. Without support like this, the organisation would be in dire straits.”
Swift shared the needs the organisation has ahead of the festive season:
- Automatic washing powder
- Pine Gel
- Jik bleach
- Heavy-duty black bags
- Catmor Kitten pellets
- Small bite Adult dog pellets
- Stormy blankets
- Copy paper
- Nexgard tablets
- Toys: tennis balls, ropes and cat toys
“If anyone would prefer to make a cash donation towards the purchase of these items, that would also be most welcome. Our banking details are on our SPCA website and Facebook page,” Swift concluded.
