Covid-19 Animal Crisis Appeal – RSPCA SA forecasts $100K a week financial hit as income streams closed off
March 27, 2020RSPCA South Australia has today launched a crisis appeal as the coronavirus outbreak continues to threaten the organisation’s ability to care for our State’s most vulnerable animals.
All funds raised by the appeal will go towards keeping essential frontline animal care and rescue services going amid increasing efforts by governments to contain the virus.
These services are totally dependent on donations- they receive no government funding. (The State Government partly funds RSPCA South Australia’s 7-strong inspectorate, with donations making up the shortfall.)
The launch of the Covid-19 Animal Crisis Appeal comes at the end of the most challenging week in RSPCA South Australia’s 144-year history. The virus outbreak has so far resulted in:
- The closure of all nine Op-shops
- The suspension of dog training classes
- A reduction in the number of volunteers
- A reduction in the number of regular donors
- The cancellation of May’s nationwide Million Paws Walk, the organisation’s main fundraising event
RSPCA South Australia’s CEO Paul Stevenson said the high possibility that animal shelters in Australia could be in lockdown soon (as happened in the UK and New Zealand this week) compounds the urgency to shore-up the organisation’s financial security.
“In the past week, we have seen the income streams we rely on for the daily care and rescue of animals either dwindle or completely dry up, to the point where our budget forecasts show we will soon suffer losses of more than $100,000 a week,” Mr Stevenson said.
“With 700 animals in care, more than half of them in our shelters, and other animals in urgent need of care still coming in via our inspectors and animal ambulance, this is clearly not sustainable for long.”
As the coronavirus pandemic affects people’s health and livelihoods, RSPCA South Australia is anticipating further demands on its services including:
- An increased need for emergency boarding by unwell and/or hospitalised people who have no support to care for their animals
- More surrendered animals as people struggle to afford pet food or find themselves homeless
- An increased need for mobile foster animal care support – delivering supplies, moving animals and providing home vet checks
According to Mr Stevenson, the organisation is running as leanly as it can, with staff and remaining volunteers working long days to ensure hundreds of animals receive the daily care they need.
“We must replace the income we’ve lost so that we can continue this vital work for animals,” he said
“No matter what, we are determined to survive this – but we cannot do it alone.
“We ask people to please not let our most vulnerable animals be forgotten amid this crisis.
“Please help us continue to rescue and care for them as we all strive to come out the other side of this distressing time.”