Tourney helps RSPCA

By PATRICIA KEAMO
THE Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals hosted a golf tournament to raise funds for its education and adoption programmes in Port Moresby on Friday.
The four-person Ambrose event attracted 22 teams, including The National, for the day-long tournament at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club.
Orbitz claimed pole spot while South Pacific Brewery and Paradise Breweries finished second and third respectively.
Initiated in 2010, the education programme promotes responsible pet ownership and wildlife conservation.
The adoption programme, established in 2008, helps unwanted and stray animals find new homes.
“The education programme employs a coordinator and two casual employees who carry out weekly visits to primary and elementary schools in the nation’s capital,” the society said in a statement.
“Annually, at its current capacity, the programme reaches more than 15,000 to 20,000 students, teachers and other members of the public.
“It is a goal of the organisation to extend the programme to the rest of the country.”
The shelter and adoption programmes see an average of 30 to 40 dogs and 10 cats per month.
“For every animal that we are able to save and put up for adoption, it costs us about K2,500 to provide food, water, basic medical treatment, including vaccination, and to have the pet neutered.”
Meanwhile, society general manager David Thompson said they received assistance through donations and fundraisers.
“We have a team of people who go out three times a week to rescue stray and unwanted animals from the streets,” he said. “We don’t get any government funding so any kind donations of blankets, sheets, towels and so on would help.”
Thompson thanked the tournament sponsors and teams for helping ensure a successful event.