More than 100 dogs at the Centurion SPCA have fallen ill and are being treated for gastroenteritis after contaminated water was identified as the cause of diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite.
Image: Joburg Etc
The illness is placing additional pressure on the animal welfare organisation, which is urgently requesting clean water and empty containers.
Dogs treated for gastroenteritis
Tshwane SPCA chair Jeanine Niemann-Greatorex said the first cases initially appeared similar to parvovirus, a serious illness affecting dogs. Testing, however, returned negative results for parvovirus.
As more dogs became sick, staff investigated other possible causes. The food was checked first, but was ruled out. The pattern of illness led the SPCA to identify the water as the problem.
“It is definitely the water causing the diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy and loss of appetite,” Niemann-Greatorex said.
The affected animals are being treated for gastroenteritis. Niemann-Greatorex said the dogs were showing symptoms that can resemble overheating, but that the cases were also marked by a distinct gastrointestinal odour.
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Dehydration is a major concern
The water contamination has created a difficult treatment situation. The dogs need fluids to avoid dehydration, but the SPCA cannot give them water believed to be making them ill.
Niemann-Greatorex said the organisation was requesting both water and empty containers. Even if people could provide only containers, she said, the SPCA could fill them with municipal water and disinfect them to ensure it was clean.
The problem is particularly serious for puppies. According to Niemann-Greatorex, the puppies have not yet developed a proper immune system, leaving them especially affected by the diarrhoea and vomiting.
For animals already in care, a disruption to safe drinking water can quickly become a welfare emergency. Diarrhoea and vomiting can lead to fluid loss, while illness can also make animals less willing to eat or drink. In this case, the SPCA is having to manage both the treatment of sick dogs and the search for a safe water supply.
Community asked to help
The Tshwane SPCA houses an average of 300 animals across its two Pretoria branches at any given time. The number of animals in its care means that clean water is needed not only for drinking, but also for the daily care and hygiene of the facilities.
Catherine Keyworth, manager of the Arcadia City Improvement District, said 160 animals with diarrhoea represented a problem for the wider community. She has been contacting businesses and individuals to seek assistance.
“Every drop counts,” Keyworth said, describing the response from Tshwane residents as generous.
Residents and businesses are being encouraged to contribute what they can. Keyworth said donations do not need to come from large companies or be substantial to make a difference.
She also suggested using online delivery services, including Checkers Sixty60 and Pick n Pay, as a convenient way to send donations quickly and simplify the logistics of getting supplies to the animals.
- Clean drinking water can help address the immediate shortage.
- Empty containers can be supplied for the SPCA to fill and disinfect.
- Small contributions can assist with the response, even when donors are not able to make large donations.
Keyworth described the assistance as a display of community action, with Tshwane residents supporting animals in need from near and far.
Water challenges continue across Tshwane
The illness at the Centurion SPCA comes as the City of Tshwane deals with several water-related challenges. Mayor Nasiphi Moya said these include the ongoing contamination crisis in Bronkhorstspruit, water quality concerns in parts of Hammanskraal, infrastructure failures and supply restrictions in other areas.
Moya said the challenges have different causes and are placing additional pressure on an already constrained water supply network. The city is working with Rand Water to stabilise supply across affected systems, particularly Garsfontein and Klapperkop, where critically low reservoir levels continue to affect communities.
According to Moya, infrastructure failures, reduced bulk water supply and exceptionally high consumption have prevented reservoirs from recovering sufficiently.
The mayor also said the contamination incident affecting the Pretoria CBD and Hammanskraal had been resolved. Testing confirmed that the water was safe for consumption, and the boil-water advisory linked to the Findlay reservoir was lifted on 24 October.
Why safe water matters for animals in care
Animal shelters depend on a reliable supply of safe water to protect animals that may already be vulnerable because of age, illness or the stress of being in a shelter environment. When a water source is compromised, staff must quickly separate the risk from the animals’ basic need for hydration.
The Centurion SPCA situation illustrates how a water-quality problem can affect more than household consumption. It can also disrupt veterinary care, animal welfare and the day-to-day operation of organisations responsible for large numbers of animals.
For the SPCA, the immediate priorities are treating the sick dogs, preventing dehydration and securing water that can safely be used. The request for water and containers remains central to that response as the organisation manages the outbreak among the animals in its care.
Joburg Etc previously shared this article via The Citizen.
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