The Electric New Paper :
STRAY CAT ISSUE
Why no takers for sterilisation scheme?
I REFER to the letter from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) 'Scheme in place but no takers' (The New Paper, July 5).
16 July 2010
AVA should find out why there are no takers for the scheme.
During the period of the Stray Cat Sterilisation Programme, there was no lack of participation by caregivers as the cats were sent directly to the AVA for sterilisation.
I cannot understand how AVA can conclude that the programme failed, when a paper called Stray Cat Sterilisation Project in Bukit Merah View by Dr Lou Ek Hee, AVA's assistant director of animal welfare, is available online.
It has this conclusion: 'Sterilisation and responsible management has the support of up to 96 per cent of the public.
'The majority of people want cats controlled but do not want them culled. They are happy to know that AVA's present approach to the stray cat situation emphasises humane management and is targeted towards achieving long-term results.
'Sterilisation and responsible management is humane and helps to promote a kinder and more caring and gracious society.
'It promotes volunteerism and encourages both animal lovers and the people bothered by cats to be active in a constructive and self-help manner to work with the authorities to deal with the stray cat situation.'
What AVA can do is to cut the red tape and let caregivers bring cats directly to its veterinary facilities for sterilisation.
This will surely be met with an overwhelming response as there already is high demand for SPCA sterilisation vouchers and requests for slots for sterilisation in some vet clinics through the Cat Welfare Society's sterilisation scheme.
FROM READER TAN CHEK WEE
| Scheme in place but no takers |
| WE REFER to the letter 'Ugly fights over helpless strays' from reader Tan Chek Wee (The New Paper, June 23). |
| 06 July 2010 |
| We understand the concern of cat lovers such as Dr Tan on the issue of stray cat management. Nonetheless, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) has to balance the interest of cat lovers and those who are bothered by cats. We encourage sterilisation as a way to control the population of stray cats. However, we cannot rely solely on sterilisation to keep the stray population in check. Stray cats can create nuisance and hygiene problems regardless of whether they are sterilised or not. It is inevitable that sterilisation and culling have to be carried out in tandem to alleviate these problems and prevent the proliferation of strays. AVA had previously worked with animal welfare groups and town councils on a Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme to control the stray cat population through sterilisation and responsible management of the sterilised stray cats by volunteer caregivers. The scheme was terminated in 2003 as there was no reduction in the number of strays or stray cat complaints. In 2007, AVA and town councils agreed on a Stray Cat Sterilisation Programme. AVA would subsidise the cost of the sterilisation of stray cats if the caregivers of stray cats, town councils and the community in the respective precincts agreed to participate in the programme. To date, we have not been approached by any town councils or caregivers. Those who are interested in participating in this programme can contact AVA by calling 6471-9996 or e-mailing ava_cawc@ava.gov.sg We thank Dr Tan for his feedback and would like to urge cat lovers and those who may not like cats to exercise tolerance and compromise on the stray cat management issue. DEPUTY DIRECTOR, MEDIA DIVISION FOR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AGRI-FOOD & VETERINARY AUTHORITY |
