Welfare of animals

Simon Caruana (November 15) raises some very valid points regarding the stray cat problem and the feeding of strays but some of the points he makes need clarification. Also, through his letter, one may get the impression that the problem should be dealt with by animal feeders and animal protection organisations, when, considering several factors which I will explain, it is the primary duty of the government, the local councils and the local community to give a helping hand in a problem that was not created by those who care for animals but by those who do not care.

Mr Caruana sympathises with people who consider strays a nuisance. But one should note that people who complain are usually the ones who do nothing to solve the problem. Ask any animal welfare organisation how many people approach them to contribute financially for sterilising stray animals. The reply will be "too little, and it's always the same few individuals".

And, lest we forget, it is irresponsible people who create the stray problem in the first place, so if it is difficult for the authorities to apprehend and bring to justice people who abandon animals, it is the duty of the same authorities to fork out money or resources to deal with the irresponsible people's resulting problem by assisting animal organisations to perform neutering programmes. Which brings me to the solution.

Hopefully, the newly formed Animal Welfare Council will be discussing the stray problem. One way to deal with the problem would be to do so locally and not nationally. Local councils should be given resources, manpower and finances to deal (in collaboration with animal protection organisations) with the problem in their own locality. Thus, the problem will be reduced from a massive country-wide problem to a fraction of what it is, and can be dealt with by local councils. Remember that animal organisations receive no regular funding from the government.

But, unfortunately, as Mr Caruana also mentions (and condemns), many people choose the easy way out by poisoning strays, even though, besides it being cruel to the animals, it is also illegal and is a health hazard to people (including children - poison can be deadly for both animals and humans).

Mr Caruana is puzzled by what he perceives as lack of respect of animal feeders towards other people, despite loving animals. He mentions, as a very accurate and true example, that an unsterilised female cat will attract several males. But what Mr Caruana perhaps sees as irresponsibility of some feeders in view of this fact, most often it is not irresponsibility but helplessness that aggravates the problem. Many feeders spend most of their income on feeding animals, and everyone knows that to sterilise animals is expensive (especially when it involves several cats). So the feeder, with his/her financial difficulties, harassment from neighbours, and no support from the government or the local community, will deal with the immediate problem, which is feeding hungry mouths and, unfortunately, may not have the time and resources to deal with the long-term solution, which I hope will be tackled by the Animal Welfare Council. Animal lovers are not "irresponsible". The truth is that everyone's responsibility has been dumped on them! They cannot do miracles. Of course, you will always find someone who does not clean up after feeding. But this is not the rule, it is the exception.

Mr Caruana further says that "if for some reason or other, those who feed stray animals decide not to adopt one of them as a pet, then I believe they have no right to impose the burden onto others". The fact is that most people who feed strays in the streets also care for rescued strays in their homes. And even where this is not the case, the simple reason is that not everyone has the means or space required to keep animals in their home.

As for imposing the burden on others, the fact is that it is usually the other way round. It is people who abandon animals, or do not contribute anything towards humanely solving the problem, that have imposed the burden on stray animal feeders.

Mr Caruana concludes that "they might be surprised to learn that others would be willing to lend a hand in getting some of the stray animals sterilised, if only they were consulted from the outset". Mr Caruana will be surprised to learn that nearly all animal protection organisations, not to mention individual feeders, are usually in financial difficulties. Without any government support or donations by individuals, the stray problem will aggravate, and not be solved.

If Mr Caruana, as I believe he is, is one who is willing to give a helping hand, he will be surprised to learn that he is in a minority. Usually, people do not care, so long as there are others forking out money, time and resources to help animals in need, like the animal feeders in question.