(LK) SOFA article reg. KMC refusing the services of TAPA

[Guest guest]

Kandy Municipal Vet continues to obstruct Humane Dog Population Control

 

 

 

Once again Dr.Jayasinghe, the KMC-Vet-surgeon, refused an offer by a very

qualified Vet-team to help the city in controlling the dog-population

through an effective Catch-Neuter-Return Program.

 

 

 

TAPA (Tsunami Animal People Alliance) has been spaying/neutering 21 000 dogs

in the past 5 years, mostly in the areas affected by the Tsunami, but also

in Colombo in cooperation with " Embark " . The offer to help out in Kandy too

was already refused by Dr.Jayasinghe two months ago, but on request of the

Honorable Governor T.Kobbekaduwa, it was offered once again this month. Not

only the Governor of the Central Province, but also the Mayor of Kandy,

would have gladly accepted this offer in order to get the stray-dog-problem

tackled and to save the funds of the Government, but the Vet seems to have

some kind right to object because dog-population control comes under his

department. The only reason he gave for his objection was that, another

group working in Kandy, would be interfering with his own program. His own

program has started one and half years ago, it lasted three days and only

few hundred animals have been sterilized in that, after that nothing has

been done at all except 17 dogs last week at a small army-camp. Apart from

that: why should another group working towards the same goal be regarded as

an interference, why is it not been recognized as a support? In all other

parts of the Central Province the MOH offices conduct programs and none of

them has ever complained if SOFA or KACPAW had programs in the same

location, on the contrary, we all have been working alongside in good

cooperation. In the Southern Province TAPA is working together with the

Galle Municipal Council to stabilize the dog-population.

 

 

 

However, the last word has not been spoken yet, because higher authorities

are already questioning the decision of the KMC-Vet. There is still hope for

the dogs of Kandy and the people of Kandy, who would like to see the

dog-population reduced through humane methods. In the meantime SOFA can be

contacted by anyone, who would like to get his pet sterilized and also

street-dogs, which are roaming in your vicinity we are gladly picking up to

get them spayed, but we don't have a well-equipped and well-trained

catching-team like TAPA, therefore we can only help if the dogs are

relatively docile and friendly. To contact SOFA please call 0777-426229 or

0602-801736.

 

 

 

Eva Ruppel

 

 

 

Treasurer SOFA