Adoption process at Polokwane SPCA

Dear Bruce,Thank you for sharing your feedback. We take all concerns regarding our adoption process seriously, and our primary goal is ensuring the long-term welfare of the animals in our care. To clarify the situation, our team investigated the interaction between you, the Sandton SPCA and our Polokwane Branch. The adoption of high-energy breeds, such as Belgian Malinous, needs an experienced owner with knowledge and understanding of the breed.During these discussions and your e-mail to Polokwane SPCA, serious discrepancies  arose regarding your residential status and employment, with conflicting information provided to different Societies. You mentioned that you are an employee for Nando’s in Melrose, Sandton. And you live in Gauteng.  You stated to Sandton SPCA that you were promoted by Nando’s and will move closer to home,  but to the Polokwane SPCA, you stated that you  resigned to further your studies. Adopting an animal is a serious matter to us, because we want to ensure that the animal’s best interest is maintained. We do not allow adoptions of “working animals”, as you also indicated in your e-mail to the Polokwane Society, that the Malinous will be a working dog, to keep it stimulated.  During the discussion with the office of Polokwane SPCA, you stated that you needed a dog for security purposes.It is a core policy of the SPCA nationally that we do not home animals to serve as security or guard dogs, even if we only have a reasonable suspicion that this might be the case.Additionally, our policy requires that an adopted animal resides at the same premises as the applicant, to ensure proper monitoring and care- a fact that remained unclear, as you have given different versions of your work address to the Sandton and Polokwane Societies.Regarding your location, while Lebowakgomo falls in our area, we are cautious about adoptions in regions lacking veterinary services or welfare support, as this is vital for the animal’s health. Another discrepancy that we noted, is that you did not state the name of the vet that you’ve used, and said you will get one. However, during my discussion with you telephonically, you mentioned that your previous dog was put to sleep by a vet.We still have no evidence of the Vet that you used, or the reason for the dog’s death. The prerogative lies with Societies to place animals in homes suitable to their breed and their needs, as pets. We deny that our staff was “judgemental” based on your living area, rather, they were following strict protocols designed to protect the animal.Based on the conflicting information provided and the intended use of the dog for security, the application cannot be approved.Long-term animal welfare is our main concern, and although we appreciate your feedback, we have to follow strict protocols for adoptions.The fact that an application to adopt has been completed, does not automatically qualify an applicant to be successful.