SSPCA to launch new sterilisation campaign for cats and dogs |24 April 2021

Mr Vidot

The Seychelles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) in collaboration with its partners is launching a new nationwide sterilisation campaign for cats and dogs in the community as of today, April 24.

The launch of the campaign at the SSPCA animal shelter at Providence will see some 30 animals being sterilised based on an appointment basis. The campaign will later be organised in the districts and possibly at regional level as this is yet to be finalised.

Talking to Seychelles NATION this week about the new campaign, Keith Vidot, the general manager of the SSPCA, said as always the aim is to reduce the number of stray and abandoned animals in the community.

Once launched, the campaign is expected to continue throughout the year, Mr Vidot said.

He said the way the SSPCA is going about is to note and take in the number of people who are interested to have their animals neutered and after a period of time they will compile to see the district with more requests before issuing appointment to them so they can bring in their animals at the next sterilisation camp either in their district or region.

He noted that the maximum number of animals the SSPCA accepts for one camp is usually 30.

Mr Vidot noted that unfortunately the SSPCA has to charge a fee of R350 per animal to cover at least some of the high cost of medications required for the sterilisation process.

He said the SSPCA vets and other volunteers will be taking part and helping out in the campaign.

The last mass nationwide sterilisation campaign for cats and dogs was held in January last year with the assistance of the UK-based organisation Spay Sisters during which over a thousand animals were neutered over nine days. It was the second time the Spay Sisters carried out such a neutering exercise in Seychelles.

Meanwhile Mr Vidot has expressed the SSPCA’s concern at the increasing number of abandoned animals in the community many of which are ending up at the SSPCA shelter at Providence.

He said the increase followed the announcement last year that pet owners have to register all their animals in preparation for the forthcoming and entry into force of the Control and Protection of Dogs Act.

Mr Vidot said before the announcement the SSPCA was receiving around 10 requests for pet adoption per week but right now it is receiving at least one request a month while the number of animals finding their way to the shelter continues to increase.

He said with the increase the shelter has long surpassed its capacity and is having difficulty to accommodate the large influx of animals.

“While the SSPCA survives on donations to sustain its operation and feed the animals, at present the shelter has gone over its capacity. We have tried to accommodate all the animals that come in but we can no longer do so thus the importance of continuously organising neutering campaigns to try and reduce the number of litters in the community,” Mr Vidot said.

Marie-Anne Lepathy