Denver Isaacs
7 May 2008
Windhoek — THE Windhoek Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has indicated a desire to either buy or lease part of the vacant Ramatex property in Windhoek's Otjomuise area.
The animal welfare organisation last week submitted a formal application to the Windhoek municipality, indicating its need for more space to effectively fulfil its mission.
The SPCA, together with the Cat Protection Society, has spent the better part of the last two weeks at Ramatex - capturing more than 100 cats abandoned by the factory's Asian workers when they left the country.
SPCA Vice Chairperson Ilga Glueck said they realised during this operation that the Ramatex property, or a portion thereof, would be ideal for the SPCA.
"The Windhoek SPCA is currently situated in Robert Mugabe Avenue, and with the hugely increased numbers in intake of both dogs and cats we have outgrown this property.
As Windhoek is growing, these numbers shall not decrease, and we cannot at this stage accommodate bigger animals," Glueck said.
Adding to their workload, she said, were the large numbers of pets they were asked to take care of during the holidays, as well as the number of cruelty cases they were forced to deal with.
The SPCA generates much of its income from offering boarding facilities for pets - income which could be increased if it had a larger premises.
It is understood that the SPCA has been in discussion with the City of Windhoek since October last year over the possibility of getting a larger and more suitable property.
Other plans mentioned by the SPCA in its application to the municipality include the setting up of a training centre, where staff members, schoolchildren and other people could be trained in animal awareness.
Asked last week about plans for the Ramatex premises, the City of Windhoek said it was conducting regular inspections of the site to "assess the existing situation".
Decisions on the property would have to be made by the City Council after reviewing the findings of these inspections, the municipality said.
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