Bequest Society News
Catching up with special friends who have made the decision to remember our SPCA in their Wills
MEET-A-MEMBER Michelle Munroe
As an accountant working from home, Michelle knows that three cats add up to the perfect number of purrs and cuddles!
Harley, Star and Maddison are all rescues. When a friend found a tiny 2-week-old kitten, she knew just who to take it to – Michelle has always loved animals, especially cats. 14 years later, Star is still living happily with Michelle. But she doesn’t like strangers and hides in the bedroom when people visit.
The other two cats belonged to Michelle’s next door neighbour, who wasn’t looking after them properly. When Harley came over to her house, he was skin and bones. Kind-hearted Michelle couldn’t chase him away as he was clearly starving. After she found out that
he had a kidney problem, she looked after him until he was better and, not surprisingly, he decided to stay with her permanently. It wasn’t long before Maddison moved in too!
Cruelty to animals is something Michelle can’t tolerate. Including our SPCA as a beneficiary in her Will gives her the satisfaction of knowing that animals in distress will always have a safe haven.
Posted 7 November 2023
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Pam & Michael
Turning 93 is a real cause for celebration and lots of spoils. Michael received plenty of gifts, chocolates and good wishes for his birthday in September, as well as a visit from Carol, from the Dog Box charity shop in Ballito.
Pam celebrated her 96th birthday on 1 October. Unfortunately, she spent the day in hospital, but was up, walking around the gardens enjoying the sunshine a few days later. She loves feeding the wild birds.
Although Pam loves animals and is devoted to her cats, she finds it too upsetting to visit our SPCA. Mary popped in to wish her many happy returns.
Pictured above:
Michael celebrates his 93rd birthday with Carol & Heidi (top), while Mary was there to wish Pam a happy 96th birthday (below).
Posted 7 November 2023
Can’t have a pet? Share one of ours!
If you live in a place that’s not pet-friendly – or you’re concerned about taking on an animal that may outlive you – why not consider sponsoring one of our friendly SPCA yard cats instead?
In return for a small monthly contribution towards their care, you can pop in to our SPCA at any time during normal opening hours, and enjoy a cuddle with ‘your’ cat. Call Mary on 031 579 6535 for more details.
Posted 7 November 2023
Message from our Bequest Liaison Officer, Mary Koen
It has been a busy few months and I have really enjoyed the opportunities afforded by our recent events to get to know you all a little better.
Even though I’m still learning the game, it was a joy to watch the Bridge experts play at our recent tournament. So successful was the event, that we organised a Scrabble morning, and may have a bowls competition next year.
Membership of our Bequest Society has grown and I’m thrilled to welcome all new members. Your thoughtful commitment to supporting our vision and legacy means the world to us. A bequest is not just a financial contribution; it is a powerful statement of belief in the causes and values you hold most dear. And it ensures that the impact of our work will continue to make a positive difference for years to come.
Thank you for being part of the Durban & Coast SPCA bequest community. If you have any questions, feedback or sugges- tions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Your input is invaluable.
Posted 7 November 2023
Moving to a smaller home?
Did you know that we collect your unwanted items in good condition?
From furniture and appliances to kitchen items, crockery, curtains, books, ornaments and clothing – whatever you no longer want or need, we can sell to raise funds to help pay for food and vet supplies for animals at the SPCA.
Call 031 579 6534 to arrange for us to collect. Thank you!
Posted 7 November 2023
Bridge morning attracts crowds
Over a hundred people attended our first Bridge Tournament at Northlands Bowling Club on 19 July – making it one of our most successful Bequest Society events.
It was wonderful to see so many people intent on the challenges of the game and thoroughly enjoying the morning. Delicious eats and drinks were provided by the talented team at our own Coffee Cats Café.
Grateful thanks to Hollywood Bets for their generous sponsorship, and to everyone who attended. Through your participation, you helped us raise R12 000 towards the care of our furry orphans.
Want to join us next time? Please email mary@spcadbn.org.za to be sure of receiving your invitation.
Posted 7 November 2023
Meet-a-member: David Vincent
AKA ‘Mr Tennis’, David Vincent
has a soft spot for tabby cats
and ‘pavement specials’, who are
usually considered less desirable
than their pure bred peers.
Born in Newcastle in England,
David moved with his family to
Toowoomba in Australia at an
early age. They lived next to a
forest inhabited by koala bears
and kangaroos. Later, the family
then moved to Rhodesia before
settling in South Africa.
Regardless of where he lived,
David has always had cats or
dogs, and they always came from
the SPCA. One of his dogs was
so clever, it recognised the sound
of his car and would always be
sitting by the door waiting for him
when he got home.
A member of our Bequest Society
since 2007, David explains why
he joined: “What better way to
reward the loyalty and affection
of all those animals, than by
leaving a bequest to the SPCA,
which looks after so many stray,
sick and unwanted pets?”
Pictured above:
David Vincent enjoys meeting
Amber, our tabby Yard Cat.
Posted 22 February 2022
"Your work is critical, not just necessary"
So says animal lover and
Bequest Society member, Rose
McDonald.
“I have always been so impressed
by the work of the SPCA,” says
Rose. “Rescuing animals in
distress, policing animal cruelty
cases, and caring for lost,
surrendered and abandoned
creatures is so important.
“It must be devastating for your
dedicated staff to receive bad
publicity and negative comments
from the ‘bleeding hearts’. As
much as I am an animal lover,
the thought of prolonging an
animal’s life if it has no, or very
little, prospect of recovery or
being rehomed is in itself a form
of cruelty.
“Too many people put their
own feelings fi rst, instead of
considering the welfare of the
animal. The fact of the matter is
that there are just too many dogs
and cats around and irresponsible
people still deliberately breed
more.”
Rose is the devoted owner of
two dogs, Touch and Jack. “They
bring me such joy and make me
laugh out loud every single day,”
she says. Animals have always
played a big part in her life. She
and her sister grew up on a farm
in Rhodesia and were homeschooled
until she was eight.
Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, goats,
sheep, chickens, ducks and geese
were an integral part of life. Rose
even had a pet white rat, Ratty,
who went everywhere with her.
Above are some of Rose’s
favourite memories from her
photo album.
Posted 22 February 2022
Message from our Bequest Liaison Officer, Mary Koen
Mike Love (of the Beach Boys) said, “The great
thing about getting older is that you get a chance
to tell the people in your life who matter what they
mean to you”.
So I’d like to take this opportunity to tell our Bequest
Society members how much you mean to the SPCA.
Life is so short. In the blink of an eye it can be over.
But when you leave a legacy to the SPCA, it lives on in
the animals left behind.
Your kindness ensures there will be a safe place for ill treated,
abandoned and unwanted dogs and cats until they find their forever
homes, or cross over the rainbow bridge. At our SPCA, animals find
compassion and empathy – far away from the horrors they endured
before they were rescued.
Best of all, your bequest keeps on working into the future, giving hope
to animals that have not yet come through our doors. Thank you from
the bottom of my heart for making this selfless gesture.
Posted 22 February 2022
Have you spotted Humphrey's statue yet?
SPCA Ambassador,
Humphrey, featured in a
previous newsletter after raising
more than R1 million for our
SPCA. His achievement and
dedication to animals in need
has now been immortalised
in the form of a statue on the
Umhlanga promenade, outside
the Cabanas.
The statue has an embedded
Zapper code, so Humphrey can
continue raising money for our
SPCA in perpetuity! Be sure
to take a selfie if you walk that
way, and email it to
marketing@spcadbn.org.za for
possible inclusion in our next
newsletter.
Posted 22 February 2022
Why wait for Wills Week?
Every year in September, the
Law Society of South Africa
organizes a ‘Wills Week’, during
which anyone can have their Will
drawn up free of charge by a
participating attorney nationwide.
As a friend and supporter of the
Durban & Coast SPCA, you don’t
have to wait for Wills Week.
Yvonne Boden, who is the
Director of Estates & Trusts at
Garlicke & Bousfield, has very
kindly offered to assist at any time
during the year. Call Mary on 031
579 6535 for more information.
Posted 22 February 2022
Friend and protector
Isn’t it amazing how the
memories of animals
we have loved endure long
after they have passed on?
Many of us can remember
in remarkable detail our
very first pet – and still
describe their amusing
antics and habits. Bequest
Society member, Joy
Schimper, shares fond
memories of her family
dog, Honey.
"Honey, a cross
Ridgeback/Boxer, was an
SPCA rescue we had when
my children were growing
up," she explains.
Joy worked at Faith
for Daily Living, and
every day when she
arrived home from work,
Honey would be sitting
outside, waiting for her.
As soon as she caught
sight of Joy, Honey would
run inside to alert the
family and then run back
out to greet her mistress.
"Honey was very
loving and protective of
the children," Joy
remembers fondly.
Animals have always
played an important part
in Joy’s life. So the
decision to leave a bequest
to ensure that those in
distress will continue to be
rescued and cared for by
the SPCA, was easy to
make.
Posted 29 January 2020
Circle of life
Honey, the dog in the story
alongside, has been gone for
many years now. But we wonder
if there isn’t another 'Honey' in
the making right here? This cute
pup was recently adopted from our SPCA and we’re predicting
these two new friends will share
many adventures and special
moments together.
Thank you for supporting
our work, and helping to make
happy new lives possible for
unwanted dogs and cats.
Posted 29 January 2020
Lasting tribute to a special man
Seeing her husband's name on a
plaque on one of our kennels
was a bitter sweet moment for
Barbara Thomas, who joined a
group of supporters for a Tea and
Tour of our SPCA recently.
Her husband, Eddie, passed
away in November 2006, and the
plaque is a meaningful tribute to a
man who throughout his life held
animals in high regard.
Mary Koen, our Bequest
Liaison Officer, took the group
‘behind the scenes’ at our premises
so they could gain a greater insight
into the work that goes on here, and
meet some of the animals that
benefit from their support.
After the tour, the group enjoyed tea with freshly baked
scones and cupcakes at Coffee Cats Café.
If you are interested in joining
our next Tea and Tour, please call
Mary Koen on 031 579 6535.
Posted 29 January 2020
Good bye to a dear friend
We were saddened to hear of
the death of long-time
friend and supporter,
Peter Chamberlain, who passed away
on his birthday, 21 October, 2019.
Originally from London, Peter came to South Africa in the early 80s to establish Capital Radio 604,
broadcasting from Port St Johns. He managed the radio station for a decade, during which he also became the face of Natal Lotto.
More recently he was bingo host for Sun International.
Peter had a long association
with our SPCA. He MC’d our Pet
Fun Day and Bequest Society
lunches, keeping us in stitches with
his quick wit and jokes. We extend
sincere condolences to his family
and friens
Posted 29 January 2020
Start of another lifelong friendship?
Chatting to one of our newest
members, Sheila Hansen, we
discovered that her love of animals
can be traced back to when, as a
five-year old, she was shown a
litter of kittens at her mom’s
hairdressers – and decided to take
one home with her.
Her mother had no idea that
Sheila had taken the kitten – and
was quite horrified when shefound out. But 'Le-Woos', as he
was named, was through the
door and had no intention of
leaving! He remained Sheila’s
faithful companion for over 20 years.
Sheila believes that animals
need our help – and by leaving a
legacy to the SPCA in her Will,
she knows that she’ll continue
helping them in the future.
Watching another tiny kitten making friends with a young boy at our SPCA recently, we
wondered if history might repeat itself. It's always so heartwarming to see adopted animals
going home with their new owners.
Posted 29 January 2020
Message from our Bequest Liaison Officer, Mary Koen
Warm, friendly, and with the biggest
heart, Mary Koen is a familiar face
at the Durban & Coast SPCA.
"Over the past 10 years, I have had
the pleasure of meeting some of the
most inspiring people who are
members of our Bequest Society. I
read somewhere that we touch
people's lives simply by existing. But
I was unprepared for the impact
that so many of you have had on
my life.
"Thank you for sharing your
rich history ... the stories that make
me laugh (and sometimes cry) ...
and your sheer goodness and love
for animals. I always look forward
to our lunches and the chance to
catch up or just see a familiar face.
Even just enjoying a chat on the
phone brightens my day. Thank you
all for being so special."
Posted 29 January 2020
In loving memory of Dr Paddy McDowell
We're sad to report that on
5 December 2019 our
former Bequest Society chair,
Dr Paddy McDowell, passed away
at the age of 89. He chaired the
society for eight years before retiring due to ill health.
Born in the small market town
of Ballynahinch in Northern
Ireland, Paddy was brought up
around horses and had an enduring
affection for all animals.
An avid sportsman, he
represented Eastern Province at
hockey and athletics, played golf
off a two handicap and was a
former president of the Natal
Swimming Association. He held
an MCom in economics and a PhD
in international trade finance.
Paddy is survived by his wife,
Jenny, five children, 13 grandchildren
and eight great grandchildren.
We extend our sincere condolences to the family.
Posted 29 January 2020
