Monday, 26th May 2008

Volunteers for neutering campaign

Barbara Cassar Torreggiani, SPCA Malta, Floriana

On behalf of the Malta Association of Shelters and Sanctuaries, we would like to thank Minister George Pullicino and his team for responding to our "cry for help" by providing the funds to implement the National Neutering Campaign which a few years ago would not have seemed possible.

Of course, together with our proposal was an agreement that the new animal welfare laws and enforcement would be established.

The campaign is our initiative, but we know that many people, some established groups and those who are already doing so much for the stray population and the many animal lovers out there who work so hard to protect them, will be thankful of this support knowing that, at last, we can start to control the situation of ever-increasing abandoned animals.

The aim of this campaign is to reduce the population of strays over a specific period of time. This will be achieved in two phases: Phase one will be the circulation of a survey to assess the number of strays on our streets; here we hope the public will cooperate with us by filling it in and returning. The second will be the actual trapping, identifying, neutering and releasing of the animals.

As you can imagine, this is quite a mammoth task but one we feel is necessary for the island and for the animals.

Here we appeal to all those established groups like Happy Paws, SASG, Share Malta and St Francis Foundation who are feeding and looking after the stray colonies at present, to please come forward and help us with the logistics of this campaign.

Of course, anyone else who would like to get involved is most welcome. We are looking for volunteers in every district. We need all the hands we can get to make this campaign a success. Together, I am sure we can!

Next article • When cheap equals expensive

Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Barbara Cassar Torreggiani (on 27/5/08)

I don't know what Mr Farrugia means by 'heartening'. I have never refused anyone's help and indeed am always glad of it. I am fully aware that in its present state SPCA cannot possibly do everything themselves and in case he didn't understand, I wrote on behalf of our Malta Association of Shelters and Sanctuaries, in otherwords, 'established'.
The help I asked for was from 'established groups' who have been concerned enough to care and neuter our strays around the Island and so have a fair amount of knowledge.
As far as the allocation of money is concerned, Mr Farrugia need not worry. There is alot of thought as to where the money is most needed. We, the volunteers will be the ones doing the bulk of the work. All I am asking is that all those people who do care about animals might now come forward to actually help in implementing of the campaign.
After all, we are only citizens like the rest.

Franco Farrugia (on 26/5/08)

Heartening that Mrs Cassar Torreggiani is now realising that she needs all the help she cat get - from the 'established' Animal Sanctuaries as well as the good number of individuals looking after strays in our streets.

However, I repeat: the neutering programme, on its own, is not going to solve the problem. And another thing I keep on repeating - all that money being directed to the neutering programme is far too much! Some of the funds should be channelled elsewhere within the broader context of animal welfare.