Andries Venter works for the National Council of SPCAs in South Africa, a job he takes a great deal of pride in, and has also begun studying law so that he can one day fight on behalf of animals in the courtrooms as well as on the ground.
Last year Andries went above and beyond the call of duty when he came to the aid of a little boy (who claimed to have been abused at home and was running away) and his dog walking on the highway, managing to find a safehouse for the boy and a home for the dog, as well as keeping tabs on the situation to this day.
We spoke to Andries to talk about that day and find out what he’s up to now.
Andries, hi, to begin with, why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself: what’s important to you in life, what do you enjoy doing and what’re you up to at the moment?
Hi, Matt, well the most important thing to me in life is the welfare of animals. What drives me is people’s need for humaneness. Animals are without voices and that’s where we at the SPCA come in. I’m also studying part-time to become a lawyer and thus be able to eventually affect the making and enforcing of animal welfare legislation.
Okay, now tell me what is your favourite day of the week is and why?
Wednesday is my favourite day… The reason is because it’s the middle of the week and you tend to get more work done when the weekend’s in sight. I like to call it my ‘small Saturday’.
[Laughing] We don’t hear that very often, normally it’s a resounding ‘Friday’… So, Andries, tell me where you find yourself today; what things have you achieved and what’re you most proud of?
I’m proud that, together with my great team at the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, they now have a very strong support system in place. Among the things we’ve done are upgrading the electronic systems in order to expedite our reports, procedures, putting GPS devices into the vehicles and control room to better equip us, the implementation of humane handling equipment for all types of animals, gaining support from Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management department and lobbying for approval for the use of warning devices on our vehicles when dealing with situations where there are animals in distress.
What’s your favourite part of the job you do?
My favourite part is when I get a member of the public to understand and agree that animals need a voice and deserve to be treated humanely. It’s a success every time I show someone the importance of respecting and humanely treating animals because that then is another voice we can add to the fight against animal cruelty.
The reason we’ve chosen to talk to you today, Andries, is because of the incident not so long ago where you came to the aid of a little boy and his dog on the highway. Won’t you tell us a little about what happened that day?
I was driving on the N1 and saw someone dragging his dog with him going the opposite way. I turned around and managed to track him down, and found that he was a little child. He said he had run away from home because he was being abused and he wasn’t going to leave his dog there. I made the dog comfortable in the back of the van and went back to interview the boy. He was really scared and I realised that he was in real trouble so I contacted the police. After three hours of waiting, in vain, I drove to the nearest police station but they didn’t want anything to do with it. After many phone calls to many different people I managed to find a safehouse for the boy to stay in. The case is currently still ongoing, but he was returned home after his stay at the safehouse and subsequently ran away again. He’s now staying with a friend of mine, and he’s still with his dog.
Wow, sounds like you literally had to do everything to make this happen for him, what was the hardest part of all of this?
Getting through closed doors. It’s so hard to get someone to listen – or to care – and you find that everywhere you call to try and get assistance you’re just told “I don’t know”. It was hard to turn around and admit that I didn’t know what to do for this kid, that I didn’t know where to turn anymore, and also knowing that there’s something better out there for him but that no one’s willing to help find a solution.
On a lighter note, Andries, what was the easiest thing about this situation?
Resolving the dog. We were equipped to help the dog and we had the facilities and the power, so definitely improving the dog’s situation was the easiest thing.
What personality trait do you think has contributed most to your success in this line of work?
Being extremely compassionate. But also not getting suckered into everybody’s sad stories. You have to know when to do the right thing.
What still lies ahead for you, Andries, where do you go from here?
I’m taking up a research position in special projects at the National Council of the SPCAs in the Western Cape. Maybe, in about five years’ time, I’ll be able to help change and help fight for animal welfare legislation – not just on the ground but in the courts themselves.
Wow, that’s really cool! So, work aside for the moment, what’s the most exciting thing you’ve ever done in your life?
The trip I took on a shipment container vessel to Mauritius, that was exciting. I did that trip twice.
That does sound exciting… Why did you do it?
It was necessary for me to be able to get into that industry; I did it for SPCA. They were dealing with exported cattle, you see. It seemed a great way to gain experience.
What is one everyday item you could not live without?
DVD player and TV. I can’t go very long without watching one of my shows or movies.
What message have you got for someone who might also be facing struggles at the moment in trying to achieve what they would like to achieve?
Change lies within, and it’s never too late to take up something new. You just need dedication, will and energy and you can change anything.
What would you like to be doing in ten years’ time?
I would like to be in a high level, influential position, in an organisation like the Humane Society of the United States.
Who would you say has been the most influential person in your life?
You know, I don’t really have one hey. I look up to several people and I combine their positive traits but there is no single person I idolise or model myself on. To name a few I’d say my brother, some senior colleagues and a few bosses.
In our lifetimes we never stop learning new things, but what do you think is the most important thing that you’ve learnt so far?
Be humble, no matter who you are, be humble.
Thank you, Andries, it’s been a pleasure talking to you! From the Staff Training team and I, we wish you all the best in your plans for the future and have faith that you will be successful in all that you do.
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