Dog sterilization clinic a success |22 October 2019

More than ninety dog owners brought their pets to the ICCS parking lot on Saturday to have them neutered as part of the continued dog sterilization clinics organised for free by the National Bio-security Agency (NBA).

“Today we are focusing on the neutering of dogs which falls under the Dog Control and Protection Act. Everyone bringing their dogs has set up an appointment beforehand and we expect over ninety dogs,” said Begitta Cafrine of the Animal Welfare Unit at the NBA.

The Dog Act was passed by President Danny Faure earlier this year and approved by the National Assembly. Under the law, dogs will have to be registered and micro-chipped and receive their medallion. Owners will be fined if their dogs are found roaming or have been dumped in public areas.

The legislation makes provision for the protection of dogs and places the regulatory-responsibility on dog-owners.

The NBA, the authority mandated to implement the legislation, is advising households who own more than five dogs to make the necessary arrangements to have the dogs re-homed.

Under the Act, action will be taken against anyone who owns more than five dogs.

In total four veterinarians were sterilising the dogs that had already arrived. Two of them were from the government vet services and the others were private vets.

Richard Payet, who brought three of his dogs to be sterilized, said that the exercise is a good initiative as there are too many strays on the island which is a result of people getting dogs that they cannot care for which eventually end up on the streets.

Our photos show the vets in action during Saturday’s sterilization clinic.