http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_749561.html
LET us not polarise the issue: Animal lovers and the public have a common goal, which is to get the strays off the streets ('Dog lovers upset over stepped-up culling'; Dec 21).
Where we differ is in the ways - in the treatment of the strays during their capture, and their rehoming and adoption.
Animal lovers, too, are concerned about public safety. However, the brutal capture and culling of these animals isn't the solution.
Many animal lovers like me feed stray dogs and cats with the goal of winning their trust so we can rescue them and take them off the streets and into homes or shelters where they can be properly looked after.
We do it not with the purpose of having them breed and cause more problems. But time is not on our side, simply because the support and resources are lacking.
This is the crux of the issue for all animal welfare groups and animal lovers. And, I can imagine, the same goes for the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).
This problem will not go away. The only solution is one where we all work together on a nationwide permanent effort that involves the AVA and animal welfare groups - a collaborative multi-agency task force to systematically and humanely rescue all strays and shepherd them into homes or shelters.
What is paramount is to stop the culling and brutal methods of capture.
Animal lovers like me will rally behind a joint effort to source for funding, pool resources and organise adoption campaigns.
Adrian Teo
