About Us
Welcome to the website of the South African Board of Companion Animal Professionals.
South African Board of Companion Animal Professionals or SABCAP is a constituted body/statutory board, whose members act in a coordinated way, serving the non-clinical companion animal industry needs. SABCAP is directed to the group of professionals who operate in sectors which offer and render services regarding companion animals, in five categories, namely Companion Animal Behaviourists, Companion Animal Welfarists, Animal-assisted Activity Practitioners, Companion Animal Groomers and Companion Animal trainers.
What We Do
- Companion Animal Behaviourists – This group of professionals advise clients on behaviour problems of companion animals and provide training sessions with individual owners and animals to correct unacceptable behaviour of animals which may lead to the detriment of the animals, other animals, people or the damage of property.
- Companion Animal Welfarists – This group of professionals act on behalf of the community to look after the welfare of companion animals and they are supported by the Animal Protection Act No. 71 of 1962, the Performing Animals Protection Act No.24 of 1935 and the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act No. 169 0f 1993. These persons often have to submit legal reports in court cases.
- Animal-assisted Activity Practitioners – This group of professionals uses animals to assist physical, mentally challenged persons and the elderly.
- Companion Animal Groomers – This group of professionals render a cosmetic and care service to owners of companion animals who require such special care.
- Companion Animal Trainers – This group of professionals render assistance to animal owners in training and better understanding effective communication with animals.
The groups are collectively referred to as “companion animal professionals” who are currently not regulated. From the above it is clear that the companion animal industry is not the same as Agriculture, as it is an industry which enhances and maintains human health and well-being. For this reason it is suggested that rather the Department of Health should regulate this industry. “Companion animals” were in a number of surveys in different countries described as “members of the family” and many such animals do not only share intimate space with their owners, but are treated indeed as members of the family. Many studies also indicated that companion animals are used for human substitutes and they play a significant role in humans’ physical health and mental stability.
- To provide for and regulate registration of companion animal professionals.
- To determine minimum standards of education for registration including criteria for the recognition of prior learning.
- To set a Code of Ethics and control professional conduct of members.
- To protect the interest of practitioners and the public in instances where any party was harmed or where injustice had occurred.
- To consistently improve the relationship between companion animals and humans, and in doing so enhances the animals’ welfare.
- To provide for representation and training of previously disadvantaged professionals.
It is of public interest that people be made aware of and should have a choice whether they want the services of a registered professional or a non-professional. The companion animal industry provides many jobs to previously disadvantaged people who are mostly employed on the lower levels of job hierarchy. The establishment of SABCAP helps to educate previously disadvantaged people, so that they can take their rightful place in society.
At the moment there are various groups, societies and individuals who act in an uncoordinated way and who make insubstantial claims on their efficiency and standards. This leads to a poorly-organised companion animal industry, which in turn results in tax avoidance, other types of fraud and variable standards of services, ranging from excellent to very poor.
The reason why a new profession is necessary is because the existing professions’ requirements are out of reach for the many people rendering a high standard of service in the companion animal industry. It is expected for a companion animal professional to undertake two years of targeted theoretical education, plus two years of experiential training in one of the fields of expertise. It is thus a four-year preparation, following a Grade 12 qualification. The aim is to make the profession more focussed and accessible to people in the industry who want to act as professionals.
From this brief background, the non-clinical companion animal industry needed a regulatory body to give recognition to people who want to render true professional services to the public. SABCAP will serve the broad South African community and will ensure that people working as employees in the industry are protected by labour laws.
