VSCPA urgently in need of funds

The Vincentian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (VSPCA) needs an urgent injection of funds if they are to survive beyond January 2024.

President of the VSPCA Lisa Walker told SEARCHLIGHT on Monday that the animal friendly organisation has no regular funding and donations have dried up, curtailing the work of the organisation.

“If we can’t get the funding, we will have to shut down and we have living breathing creatures and we are not sure where we will find homes for them if we shut down,” Walker lamented.

The President said that they currently have 13 dogs but in the past, when funding was adequate they would care for about 30 dogs.

“These dogs are not the marketable type that persons pay a lot of money for, we really need a Christmas miracle,” Walker commented, while noting that the VSPCA needs about EC$7000 to EC$8000 a month to sustain their operation which pays three full time workers and two part time employees who take care of the day-to-day running of the organisation.

“We are hopeful but this is scary when you see how low the funds we have are,”Walker stressed.

The VSPCA, apart from holding spay and neuter clinics at their headquarters in Arnos Vale twice monthly, is known for going out into the communities to hold these clinics as well as organizing the adoption of dogs to places like the United States of America (USA).

The organisation is also known for rescuing dogs from abusive and inadequate situations.

Walker said they conducted a fund raiser in August and managed to raise EC$2500 but that is a drop in the bucket of what they need to survive.

She noted also that they are trying to access funding from a vodka company that funds organizations like the VSPCA, while there is a donation booth at the Cruise Ship and Ferry Berth in Kingstown.

Walker is pleading with the public to help the organisation as the work they do is extremely important to the animal community.

She noted also that there are persons who abuse animals despite the Animal Protection Act.

She said a few months ago, the organisation rescued two dogs, Hero and Bravo; one of them had been chopped and the other chained and not fed for several weeks.

“…It isn’t enforced. According to the Act, the people that did this to Hero and Bravo should be fined and put in jail.

People who want to donate can call 1784532 8878 or WhatsApp 1784 5329327. Instagram-vincentian_spca, Facebook-Vincentian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or email admin@vincentianspca.org.