NSPCA: Spare a thought for animals during power cuts
Johannesburg, South Africa
05 February 2008 03:20
The lives of many animals may be threatened by power failures unless adequate back-up facilities are provided, the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) said on Tuesday.
"People who hold animals in captivity ... [must] implement a contingency plan," said the NSPCA.
Some of the establishments where animals would be affected by power failures included pet shops, zoos and rehabilitation centres. Poultry establishments, piggeries and dairies also needed a stable power supply to function in the least distressing way for animals, the NSPCA said.
During power failures, alternative power needed to be provided for animals in aquaria which used electricity for aeration, filtration, salination and heating.
Animals like reptiles and certain birds in controlled environments needed stable power to create specific heating, lighting and ventilation conditions.
Poultry houses -- housing anything from 10 000 birds in each house -- were facing a potential "catastrophe", said the NSPCA.
Power had to be supplied consistently for almost every process taking place, including providing food, water and temperature control.
"Veterinary practices and rehabilitation centres rely heavily on electricity for equipment [like] theatres, heaters, ventilation for post-op care."
The NSPCA said when dairies and abattoirs fell behind schedule because of power failures, this harmed the animals.
"Most dairies are using electric powered systems and with the herd sizes in large establishments, it would be impossible to manually milk. Not being milked timeously is extremely painful," said the council.
"[At abattoirs] all the equipment is electrically run -– so these animals will sit for how long before getting slaughtered?"
The NSPCA said large facilities like zoos or breeding farms used borehole pumps and water filtration facilities which solely relied on electricity.
"A breakdown in the filtration of this water will lead to contamination of the water and [a] resultant increase in disease."
Predators could also become a security risk when electric fencing went off during power failures.
The NSPCA said appropriate alternatives like battery-powered pumps, aeration blocks and generators needed to be considered.
The council urged anyone who needed assistance with setting up proper back-up facilities for their animals during power failures.
"Our concern is the potential suffering to animals." - Sapa
