Assist the SPCA

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - It is said that if you have an overwhelming amount of work, you should approach the tasks one at a time.

But, what do you do when you are confronted by a number of hungry faces, looking at you for daily food?

You wrack your brain, making fundraising plans, and also plan how to use the available money the best you can.

That is the dilemma the local SPCA faces every day.

Several regular contributors, businesses and individuals are on board, but the available funds are never enough to go around.

One of the excellent ideas to raise money was the recent Valentine with A Difference. Members of the public sponsored a dog or cat kennel for R200. Each contributor received a framed photograph of their furry Valentine.

According to the chairman of the SPCA committee, Jeanetta Marais, the SPCA was extremely pleased with the support.

The local SPCA staff, under the guidance of Gerda Ruiters, and a keen team of volunteers and committee members, are forever coming up with novel ideas of raising funds for our four-legged friends.

One of the novel ideas is the wooden boxes that Barries Barnard, better half of Vanessa Barnard, vice chair of the Garden Route SPCA, makes. These beautifully decorated boxes are placed at some shopping centres or other busy spots. Donors can put pet food in these boxes.

One tin or bag of food at a time will not break your budget. It will fill a few animals' empty tummies. See www.spcagardenroute.co.za.

SPCA volunteers who have a passion for animals, Vanessa (vice chair) and Barries Barnard (creator of the food boxes), with their grandsons, collecting the contributions in the box at the Hartenbos Seefront. A huge thank you to the visitors and residents who fill the box often. Photo: Denise Lloyd