SRI LANKA: LOOKING FOR SHORTCUTS... AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DOGS

[Guest guest]

Open letter to the President of Sri Lanka

 

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

 

 

First of all we wish to thank you for having taken a revolutionary step by

giving your protection to man's best friend. Killing dogs has been a useless and

cruel method of rabies-prevention and it was high time to replace this gruesome

practice with humane and effective methods.

 

 

 

In Kandy we have sterilized and vaccinated more than 7500 animals (mostly female

dogs) in the past four years and if one adds to this figure the numbers, which

have been sterilized by other animal-welfare-groups, Kandy has certainly reduced

its dog-population substantially. It is visible on the streets of Kandy, that

the number of dogs is decreasing and it also reflects in the two major hospitals

of Kandy: the number of dog-bites has decreased by more than 50% and therefore

50% less rabies-post-exposure-vaccinations have been issued.

 

 

 

We could have given these evidences and other related data at the

media-conference held by the Health-Minister last Monday, but we were not

invited, even though the Director of Public Health Services is aware, that in

Kandy a humane dog-population-control-programme is being carried out.

 

 

 

After the conference we were informed, that your wise decision to introduce

humane methods, has now been altered: instead of sterilizing the animals, the

local authorities now consider to use progesterone treatment to prevent

pregnancies. After consulting the Veterinary Surgeons of the Peradeniya

University we have come to the conclusion, that this method should not be

adopted for the following reasons:

 

 

 

1.. Even after one progesterone injection animals can develop " pyometra " , a

very painful condition, which is fatal if not treated in time by removal of the

womb, more likely it will occur after the second or third treatment. Please

refer to the " Textbook of Small Animal Medicine " by John Dunn, Page 582 for more

information on the disease.

 

 

2.. The progesterone injection has to be repeated every six months. Even if

the animal has not yet died of pyometra after the first injection, it would have

to be injected again every six months to prevent pregnancy permanently, which is

neither economic nor efficient.

 

 

3.. Since no animal warden can know of each street-dog when she was in heat

last, he cannot know whether he injects the progesterone into a pregnant dog.

Each pregnant dog injected will surely die in a short time a very painful slow

death.

 

 

Dear Sir, we cannot help, but to conclude, that your honourable intention to

prevent cruelty against animals is being undermined and therefore we appeal to

you, to give strict order, that the dog-population control has to take place

through surgical sterilization.

 

 

 

We would gladly volunteer to help in your efforts, to control the dog- and also

the cat-population if it is done in a decent way. We don't agree to methods,

which imply risks and inflict suffering onto the animals.

 

 

 

Since the animals cannot talk, we plead to you on their behalf, to respect their

right to life and wellbeing and safety.

 

 

 

Thank you for hearing our desperate plea.

 

 

 

With respect

 

 

 

Rohini de Silva

 

 

 

(Secretary of SOFA)