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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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Humane Dog Catching for Asia
Nana Prayoga of Yudisthira Animal Welfare International
27 March to 7 April 2006
MALAYSIA— the nation is poised to adopt more humane stray dog control methods following a workshop sponsored by the RSPCA International of UK and the Humane Society International (HSI) in cooperation with local partner the Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor on humane catching and handling of stray animals.
The workshop, which was conducted by a panel of expert dog handlers from Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom, featured on-site practical training at different municipalities in Selangor and the Federal Territory and Penang. It is hoped that the workshops will provide the skills and techniques needed to implement more humane methods of dog control in the country using nets, which have proven successful and effective in other Asian countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.
Nana Prayoga, instructor with Yudisthira Animal Welfare International, said, “It is important that we in the profession remain absolutely and undividedly committed to the welfare of animals and that we are well educated and equipped with the methodologies, skills and tools that are humane and compassionate. We are here to share our experiences in humane stray control solutions that have been created to suit Asian environments.”
Controlling the population of stray cats and dogs in the country has been a persistent challenge to government enforcers and animal welfare groups. According to available statistics, it is estimated that each municipality in Kuala Lumpur catches and euthanases over 10, 000 animals annually. The recent controversy over the indiscriminate shooting of dogs by some municipalities generated much public outrage, with many calling for more humane solutions to the problem of stray animals while others called for the total ban on the practice of shooting animals.
“The response to the workshop has been very encouraging, and it is indeed heartening to have such strong support from our local municipalities,” said Christine Chin, Chairman of SPCA. “We realize that the public is concerned about the problem of strays and that our local councils receive many complaints and domestic calls on a daily basis.”
“While we don’t dispute the need for strays to be captured and transferred to suitable kennel facilities, we are against any form of inhumane or cruel treatment during the process. Our ultimate goal, of course, is that through more training sessions like these and public outreach efforts, municipals around the country will be spurred to adopt more humane stray dog control programs”, added Chin. “We hope that in the future, our local municipal pounds and animal shelters will be transformed into rehoming centers, and more members of the public will come forward to give these animals good homes.”
The workshop, which was held from March 27-31 2006, was sponsored by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) UK and dog catching nets were generously provided and sponsored for all participants by the Humane Society International.
