The Johannesburg SPCA is celebrating 121 years of helping animals in need, an incredible milestone for the organisation and the community.
Johannesburg, South Africa (18 October 2023) – The Johannesburg SPCA, also known as Johannesburg Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA), is celebrating its 121st birthday on the 28th of October 2023.
The team are celebrating all the work that has been done and thanking every person who has supported them for the last 121 years. Liana Marx, public relations and marketing manager at the JSPCA shared some insight into the history of the organisation and how they manage even today, in the ever-shifting world.
“The JSPCA was established in 1902 and is one of the largest animal welfare organisation’s in the country. We have always operated in the suburb of Reuven, in the south of Johannesburg, and in fact our first offices were in Booysens, just down the road,” says Liana Marx
“Certainly, over the years, things have changed dramatically. In the past we had far more supporters, as we were one of a very few animal organisation’s in Jhb. However, as we know so many more have opened, and rightly so. So, while donations may have staggered, we have always managed to keep our doors open, as we try to work with the public and community as much as possible.”
“’Of course, our journey can be a struggle, as some people may not agree as to what we do and choose to support no kill shelters, where others understand why we do what we do – and that we undertake all our work with compassion and kindness. We have a team of dedicated staff who not only provide crucial support to animals in need, but our Inspectors also go into the communities to promote responsible pet ownership. We believe that the JSPCA has a vital role to play in raising awareness and advocating for stronger animal protection.”
“Many people don’t know that we also operate as the City of Johannesburg official pound, and we accept all stray, abandoned, abused and confiscated animals – we never turn any animals away. And as we operate in areas where people keep livestock, this means we also work with a variety of farm animals, not just merely cats and dogs. In fact, members of our staff are on standby 24 hours a day to accept stray or injured animals and to attend to emergencies,” adds Marx.
To celebrate this milestone, the JSPCA is offering several specials to its supporters, including discounts on products sold at its shop and online store, discounts for its boarding kennel facilities for animals when people go away and on microchipping of pets.
Additionally, a fun bath and brush day is being hosted at their offices on 28 October where the public is invited to spend some time with the animals up for adoption – bath them, brush them, or take them for a walk – and the entrance fee is either a R50 donation or a bag of pet food/treats. You can find the details here.
“We would love people to get involved and help us celebrate our birthday. We are commemorating 121 years of servicing the community. There have been heartache and tears, but also a lot of happiness and joy. There have also been thousands of phone calls, and thousands of new homes found. We have and never will deviate from our mission of trying to put a stop to animal cruelty,” says Marx.
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“And none of this would have been possible without our community’s support! We rely on their generosity so much and each time they have come through and helped make a difference – and we thank every person who has supported us over the years.”
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South Africa, We Have SO Much Good News to Share With You!The JSPCA invites all animal lovers and supporters to join in celebrating this momentous occasion and is asking for a donation of R121 in support of the 121 years it has been in service to the community. You can find all the ways to donate here.
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