Zama Mabena
Tell me about one dog and what his / her life was like before they came to you ?
A terrified Boerboel was admitted to our facility not long ago . He was so scared that he would involuntarily evacuate his bowels whenever a staff member entered his kennel . He had been broken by a previous owner . We named him Tilla . We had to put a lot of work into his rehabilitation but our efforts were rewarded when we saw his personality change from a terrified boy who was prone to bouts of fear-based aggression to a confident , healthy loving pet .
What is Tilla ’ s life like now ?
Tilla has been adopted and is living a life of love . He will never know fear again and it brings me great joy to know that he is a valued part of a loving family .
MEET ZAMA MABENA
POUND AND ADOPTION CENTRE MANAGER
Who is your hero and why ?
Our SPCA ’ s Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse is my hero . He always sees the good in people and his commitment to our cause keeps me motivated . I really look up to him .
What attracted you to this cause ?
I always wanted to work at the SPCA . I knew about them from a very young age and I believed in their work . I liked the idea that they arrested people who were cruel to animals . I grew up in a very rural area and my Dad and Uncles had a lot of dogs who they loved and cared for . They instilled in me the love and respect I have for animals today .
What was the biggest challenge you are facing in your current role ?
Dealing with people who constantly bash the SPCA because they don ’ t understand that the SPCA works within the law is governed by the law and will always do what is best for animals within this framework .
How do you think your job makes a difference ?
It does a lot , it makes a huge difference although sometimes you don ’ t realise it , when you look back you can see the difference you have made with your passion , compassion and hard work . Thinking back to years gone by , every circus had an elephant , there are no more elephants in circuses now because of the work of this movement .
With so many great cause to support , why should people choose to adopt from the SPCA ?
All dogs in all shelters everywhere deserve a chance at a happy life so the question is difficult for me to answer but adopting from the SPCA means ; you get a healthy , fully vaccinated , sterilised , microchipped pet whose behaviour and temperament is fully understood by our team . We also do follow up visits with adopters to check , not only on the welfare of the adopted pets but also on the families to ensure that they are adjusting well to their newest addition . We have a qualified on-site behaviourist who works with our families to help them understand and address any behavioural problems should these manifest .
What would you say to someone considering pet adoption ?
Just do it ! It may be a really big commitment but an animal will provide you with unconditional love for their entire lifetime . Most of the animals at the SPCA have been rescued from very abusive environments and they are all so deserving of the opportunity to live in a loving home .
What motivates you to work hard ?
The animals ! Seeing the change that I can make to an animal ’ s life makes it hard to stop . I dream of a kind , compassionate world where all animals are treated with respect and kindness .
If you were a super-hero , what powers would you have ?
Mind-bending ! I would love to be able to change people ’ s mindsets so that the world can be a better place for animals .
If you had to describe yourself as an animal , which one would it be ?
A Scottish terrier because I ’ m really cute but I can also put up a good fight .
What is one thing you will never do again ?
I left the movement thinking I could no longer be a witness to the cruelty and suffering of animals . But I left my heart behind . Everything I do , I do for the animals and the SPCA . The SPCA has helped me grow as a person and in many ways , the SPCA and the animals have saved me .
16 FOOTPRINTS 2020