Safety concerns lead SPCA to halt mobile clinic services in Khayelitsha
Image: Supplied
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has withdrawn its Mobile Clinic Services in Khayelitsha after two attempted armed robberies on their staff in just a matter of days.
In a harrowing incident, one of their mobile clinic operators shared how they managed to flee with their lives and saved four cats and 12 dogs, during a near hijacking incident.
The team's SPCA vehicle was targeted twice in the same community in Khayelitsha in just two days.
The operator, chose to remain anonymous due to safety concerns and described in horror how he faced two gun-wielding hijackers : 'I drove for my life and theirs.
'I'm the breadwinner at home. My immediate concern was what will happen to my family if I am not here anymore and what will happen to the animals in my van.
'Then I drove for my life and theirs.
'One gunman was in front of the vehicle and the other at my side window. I am thankful to God that I was able to get away.'
Belinda Abraham, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA's Communications Officer said their staff had gone beyond the call of duty by rescuing the lives of the animals and their own.
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'This attack followed an initial attempted hijacking of the same van in the same area just 2 days earlier,' she said.
'Inside the vehicle at the time were four cats and twelve dogs, all of which were being returned home following sterilisation at the SPCA's Animal Hospital.
'While the staff member escaped physically unharmed, the trauma of these attacks has left the mobile clinic team visibly shaken.
'Counselling and psychological support are being provided through the SPCA's staff wellness initiatives.'
Abraham said in a bid to safeguard their staff, they have made the difficult decision to withdraw mobile clinic services in Khayelitsha.
The Cape of Good Hope SPCA has withdrawn mobile clinic services in Khayelitsha following two attempted armed robberies.
Image: Supplied
'This is devastating for the animals of Khayelitsha,' said Abraham.
'Crime threatens human lives and now it has robbed animals of essential veterinary care. 'The SPCA mobile clinics are a lifeline for pets in this community, pro‐viding vaccinations, sterilisation, and parasite treatments in an area where access to veterinary care is already so limited. We are incredibly saddened that it has come to this.
'Our priority remains the safety of our staff, who often work under extreme risk to provide services to animals in crime‐ridden areas. While we continue to seek safer ways to pro‐actively serve in these communities, our commitment to animal welfare in Khayelitsha will for the immediate future be limited to Inspectorate ser‐vices only. 'In November, inspectors who were attempting to remove two dogs from their owners were lucky to escape with their lives after bricks were thrown at them in Delft. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.
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Safety concerns lead SPCA to halt mobile clinic services in Khayelitsha
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