Streats

Vocal

October 25, 2004

 

SPCA can't solve strays problem alone

 

As much as the SPCA wishes it could solve the stray animal problem (reference to Mr Chew Loon Meng's letter), it does not have the resources to do so.

 

The SPCA is a charitable organisation that depends mainly on donations to work for and with the animals.  It is not a subsidiary of the Government, it is not in charge of stray control, and does not receive government funding.

 

The objectives and priorities of the SPCA are to collect injured animals and to investigate cruelty.

 

The SPCA advises kind folk who feed strays to be responsible and not litter the environment by leaving food remnants, etc.

 

The writer seemingly hopes for a stray-free country, but Singapore is far from that ideal situation now.

 

Collecting strays and putting them to sleep is not a solution to this problem.  Singapore's urban surroundings, temperate climate and limitless food sources make the proliferation of  strays inevitable.

 

The SPCA believes that sterilising strays is the key to controlling and reducing their population to a manageable level.  To this end, the SPCA introduced a voucher programme in 1991, which still runs today, for the sterilisation of strays at selected veterinary clinics.

 

This entitles members of the public caring for strays to have them sterilised, with SPCA paying the cost.  Unfortunately, SPCA's financial limitations do not allow for this to be done on a mass scale, which is what is needed to make an impact on the reduction of the stray population.

 

SPCA respectfully appeals again to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority to reactivate its sterilisation programme with Town Councils.  This is the only sure way to curb the proliferation of unwanted strays.

 

The SPCA would be happy to advise residents who are feeding stray cats in Mr Chew's neighbourhood, if he could call me with their details at 6287-5355.

 

 

- Deirdre Moss

Executive Officer

SPCA