I WELCOME the
national effort to reduce the number of stray cats by sterilising them humanely
("Islandwide plan to sterilise stray cats"; yesterday).
Sterilisation
has always been the most effective way to reduce the population of stray
animals. Culling sends the wrong message to the public that these strays pose a
public threat, and it is a relief to hear that the number of strays being
euthanised has decreased significantly.
I urge the
authorities to consider a national sterilisation scheme for dogs as well.
To keep the
programme sustainable, sterilisation can be carried out in private clinics, and
the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority can work with these clinics and animal
welfare groups to extend coverage to more areas, especially those where the
stray populations are high.
The areas of
coverage should not be confined to community areas, but include industrial
areas as well. There are many strays in industrial areas, and the authorities
need to step up their sterilisation programme with the help of animal welfare
volunteers.
It is
challenging but with combined resources from all parties, these difficulties
can be overcome.
Darren Chan Keng Leong
Source: The Straits Times
Date: 8 July 2014
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