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The subject of
stray and neglected dogs is still the talk of town and people's attention. The
Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) recently
issued a statement on its plans to conduct a campaign to neuter stray dogs.
This decision raised a debate in the community and social media amid questions
about the ability of the authority to reach all dogs, especially male ones, and
the cost of the spaying operations that may reach KD 2 million.
There were also
different opinions on the best way to deal with stray dogs - there were calls
to kill them, house them in private places, activate the law of import and
acquisition, or transfer some of them abroad.
I have written in
previous articles on animal rights, but today I would also like to speak about
the important role of animal rights advocates, because they are the mechanism
that can change the culture of society and support the government's decision to
protect the animals from potential harm, whether by neglect by their owners or
being abandoned on the streets to be sick and hungry and cause harm to
themselves and others.
Dogs might be
abandoned by their owners for various reasons, such as travelling abroad and
their inability to take their pets with him, or negligence, where some people
find that the animal, whether a cat or a dog, needs continuous care and
attention, so they find it easier to leave them in the street.
There are several
ways to deal with neglected dogs. In some developed countries, animal welfare
associations use volunteers. Here, animal rights advocates, veterinarians and
volunteers work to provide shelters for these animals. This must be handled in
a gentle, compassionate and legal manner acceptable by the World Organization
for Animal Health (OIE).
The spaying
should be done by a government agency, because the average price in private
hospitals for neutering dogs is around KD 100, and with the announcement by
PAAAFR that the campaign will target 20,000 dogs, it means it needs KD 2
million to implement it in a proper manner.
Director of
Al-Dahma Veterinary Hospital Sultan Al-Awad told the local press that only five
veterinary hospitals are accredited in Kuwait, catering to animal breeders and
pet owners. He pointed out that charges for removing the testicles of dogs
differs from one hospital to another, calling on everyone to pay attention to
their animals' health to prevent the spread of diseases, which may affect those
who are close to them. He also stressed that prices vary according to services
provided and experience.
I think this is
best way to reduce the numbers of stray dogs, and better than the use of poison
and weapons that made Kuwait face criticism for animal rights violations. The
authorities in some countries are demanding that those arriving with pets have
to possess a travel document for the animal showing its vaccination history to
be allowed to enter.
I think the
responsible body for the issue should be PAAAFR and the Department of Animal
Health, to provide the necessary resources. The government should set a budget
for this issue and act seriously and continuously to protect neglected and
stray animals.
Muna Al-Fuzai
