The Lacey Project
This is the story about Lacey, a brown cross breed dog, who inspired the Lacey Project.
Early in 2018 Lacey was brought into the Craighall Veterinary Hospital as a stray. She was petrified, neglected and had numerous medical issues. We treated her at our facility until the SPCA could collect her. Within a few days her big heart and gentle, goofy personality started to shine through and was so grateful for any attention given to her. There was something special about Lacey and all our staff fell in love with her!
To everyone’s dismay, her owner never came forward to look for her, which is unfortunately the case with most missing animals.
Lacey was collected from us by the Sandton SPCA because it is a legal requirement in terms of the By-Laws of the City of Johannesburg for all stray animals to be taken to the animal pound.
Sadly, Lacey developed Kennel Cough during the prescribed pound period at the Sandton SPCA and had to be euthanased. While Kennel Cough is a minor and very easily treatable disease, it is a disaster in kennels with hundreds of dogs. Kennel Cough is highly contagious and the infection spreads like wild fire.
It would have been highly irresponsible of the SPCA to keep an animal with a contagious disease amongst others healthy animals. The sad reality is that without quarantine facilities the only other alternative is euthanasia to avoid spreading contagious diseases.
In order to prevent this from happening again in the future Craighall Veterinary Hospital in partnership with the Sandton SPCA took the initiative to begin raising funds to build a separate quarantine kennel facility on the Sandton SPCA premises where animals with contagious diseases can be separated, secured and treated during their pound period while they recover.
Due to the generous support and spirit of staff, clients, suppliers and both local and greater communities, this quarantine facility was successfully completed.
It was officially opened on 13 March 2019.
Lacey, our beloved furry friend, lost her life in order to save thousands of others.
Her legacy lives on in our hearts forever.
