The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) was founded in 1955 as the Federation of SPCAs to provide a forum to bring uniformity to welfare legislation and standards. The 92 member SPCAs in South Africa are governed by the SPCA Act 169 of 1993 which is administered by the NSPCA, thus constituting us as a statutory body.

Our Inspectors are authorised in terms of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 and the Performing Animals Protection Act No. 24 of 1935 with the SPCA movement collectively undertaking over 90% of all animal welfare investigations and prosecutions in South Africa.

OPERATIONAL UNITS

The NSPCA deals with national issues, has six nationally operational units, namely, “Animals in Exhibition, Entertainment & Sport", “Farm Animals”, “Global Campaigns”, “Wildlife”, “Research Ethics” and “Society Liaison” (this latter being for the training and support of SPCA personnel and Committees as well as for monitoring SPCA activities).

The NSPCA also operates in areas where there is no existing SPCA, or where support is required, or has been specifically re­quested, or in response to disasters (i.e. emergencies, floods, fires).

NATIONAL ISSUES INCLUDE

• Awareness Campaigns
• Community Outreaches
• Compilation of Codes and Regulations
• Development of Committees
• Development of Units or Standards within industries that utilise animals
• Disaster Response
• Education
• Emergency Relief
• Liaison with animal-related industries
• Media Releases on national and international issues
• Monitoring of Welfare Standards
• Negotiation at Government and Provincial level
• Pro-active Welfare Work
• Researching the link between animal cruelty and human abuse
• Training of SPCA Inspectors and Committee Members
• Presentation of courses on welfare to Prisons Services, South African Police Services and Traffic Services.