SAA steps up fight against stray animals |26 March 2015

Efforts to control stray and loose animals, especially dogs, in the country have intensified.

According to Dr Jimmy Melanie, the principal veterinary officer responsible for the veterinary section of the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA), this is being done through a stray animal control programme which is first targeting public places in most affected areas like Victoria, Providence and Beau Vallon.

According to Dr Melanie, the programme will consist of collecting stray animals and eventually finding them suitable homes.

When suitable homes are not found, the animals will simply be put to death.

Dr Melanie added that in spite of some protest from animal protection organisations, “the animals will be put to sleep in a humanly manner”.

He explained that his section is acting legally under the ‘Control of Dogs Act’, and that if a control is not maintained, stray animals can represent a nuisance to society or can even be a health hazard.

“The problem with stray dogs or domestic ones which are let loose is that they are continuing to grow in numbers. We thus have to take actions to control the trend. Stray and loose animals can cause nuisance like attacking people, causing road traffic accidents, predation where they feed on farm animals etc. They can also cause diseases such as rabies. We do not want to permit the nuisance and threat to increase. We have to apply the law as stipulated by the ‘Control of Dogs Act’ or ‘Common Nuisance’ under the Penal Code. At the same time, as a country we have to reply to our obligations as per international regulations,” Dr Melanie said.

The veterinarian, however, stated that the ongoing campaign will only be a short-term one lasting until the third quarter of this year, as the SAA prepares to put into place a long-term programme for the future.

He also admitted that the campaign will not succeed without the help of other concerned agencies and organisations and unless owners take the responsibility of keeping their animals within the confine of their homes.

He added that by controlling stray animals, his agency is only dealing with the problem’s consequences as its root lies with the owners.
“We are appealing to people to be responsible owners and to take care of their animals. Government is taking the lead as for the last years we have not been able to put an appropriate programme in place. But we want to go to the root of the problem through actions like educating dog owners, children etc.,” Dr Melanie concluded.