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We've asked Sherry to jot down some of her experiences as she travels throughout Southeast Asia helping animals that are in need because of massive natural disasters. Click here for a listing of all of her diaries.
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HSI and Society of Friends of Animals (SOFA) Work to Hold Off Dog Killings
6 October 2005
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Many of you who respect animals and understand the human-animal bond will have been shocked at the recent reports of dogs being killed in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Dogs are killed with jab-sticks laced with poison or are fed poisoned meat. The death is slow and the dog dies in excruciating pain. The authorities in Sri Lanka have often reverted to this kind of mass-kill of dogs when fears of rabies are high. On average 90-100 people die each year of rabies, coupled with poor education of signs of the disease and poor testing (diagnostic) facilities the concern among the public is unduly high. SOFA have addressed this issue and decided to do something about it – for the humans – as well as the animals!
In 2002, the local animal rights group SOFA, began a program to manage the dog population in Kandy, controlling the breeding cycle and vaccinating these dogs then prevents rabies within the community dogs, making them safe. In this time they have caught-neutered-vaccinated-released (CNVR) over 5,000 dogs.
In 2002, SOFA made an agreement with the local authorities in Kandy which stated that the government would not obstruct SOFA’s work and therefore would not kill dogs in the area in which they were working. One month ago, without warning the local authorities began the killing again. So far over 340 dogs have been killed. The reasons for this are not clear; the Chief Municipal Vet stated that rabies cases within Kandy had increased over 300%, however, the hospital reports and all data gathered so far, shows that the rabies incidence is down 50% in the last three years.
At the court hearing on 29th September, HSI supported SOFA’s work by attending the court hearing alongside SOFA in Kandy. The case was postponed as the Chief Municipal Vet could not produce papers to show the 300% increase in rabies, and so, rather frustratingly – the case will be heard again on 21 October. It is hoped that the local authorities will be found in contempt of court and so will stop the killing of dogs, while SOFA continues its work. It is also hoped that SOFA’s work will be recognized as significantly reducing the incidence of rabies within Kandy area where SOFA works.
The work of SOFA is tough, each dog has to be fed, gained trust, caught and taken for neutering – as SOFA cannot afford a vet, the dogs are taken to either the University of Peredeniya or to a local sympathetic vet who helps the group. The dogs are then taken to a shelter for post-op recovery and will stay with SOFA for up to two weeks. After the dogs are recovered they will be taken back to the place they were picked up, wearing their red collar.
The red collar signifies that the dog is safe to humans and should not be a rabies risk; this gives a good impression and education to the community. The damage done by the killing of the 340 (plus) dogs in Kandy is almost too much for SOFA to bear, “it is not just the sentimental side of me that feels this loss, but also the financial and hard work that has gone into each individual to make them safe and healthy, these dogs already trusted humans because SOFA worked hard to feed them so that we could catch and neuter them and put them back…..now they have been wiped out and new dogs can already be seen in their places” said Rohini de Silva Founder of SOFA.
The new dogs are the real worry, as these dogs are sick, unvaccinated and now have large area and large food supply – making them stronger and increasing litter sizes as they breed freely. Dawn Peacock of HSI Asia commented, “Killing dogs only ever makes the population of dogs larger, and the health status and welfare of individuals poorer”, this time the killing of dogs has killed the chances of healthy community dogs, safe to humans and safe from harm.
HSI has invested in the Tsunami Memorial Animal Welfare Trust (TMAWT) in Sri Lanka, following the disaster relief operations in January-March 2005, the TMAWT who also operate an advanced form of the CNVR, with release being possible the same day as surgery, in each place the TMAWT works to gain support and agreements with the local authorities to stop killing and not to kill dogs in the future who wear a red collar and/or have the TMAWT tattoo or ear notch.
In each place TMAWT has worked this has been possible and the authorities in each area have jumped at the chance for our team to be part of their community program. Sri Lanka does NOT like to kill dogs; it is and has been their only response and reaction to the public’s fear of rabies outbreaks in the past. The TMAWT and SOFA believe that CNVR is the only long term solution to over population and rabies in dogs is to neuter the existing population (over 75%) and vaccinate all.
It is with this in mind then, that HSI will continue to support SOFA in the future when the hearing comes to fruition, whatever the outcome, HSUS will support SOFA’s efforts by helping to draft a MOU with the local authorities that will be stronger than the last and will prevent killing of dogs to enable their program to keep running.
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Court Date on Killings Rescheduled
24 October 2005
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Update: SOFA reports that the court hearing regarding the municipality's planned killing of dogs in Kandy, Sri Lanka, has once again been postponed and is now set for 5 December 2005.
