Grand Anse to host next pet sterilization programme |23 March 2005

This follows the Seychelles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (SSPCA) pet sterilization programme at the Point Larue district last month, when 13 volunteers neutered and spayed a total of 51 cats and dogs.

“The response was great,” the association’s executive director Anne Rose-Innes said. “We had a lot of interest from the public.”

She said that de-worming tablets, running chains and tick and flee dips sold well.
Running chains are being encouraged because “if a dog is in a cage it cannot protect you, but with running chains everybody benefits – they don’t bark as much as they are less frustrated.”

“We’re trying to encourage responsible pet ownership,” she added.

“People think that they don’t need to sterilize males but they are the ones who, in the end, go wandering and get into fights,” she said. “We’re really here to serve the community and if the sterilizations are for free, then people should make an effort.”

Ms Rose-Innes said that meanwhile SSPCA has also been upgrading its equipment to better its services.

“Before the sterilization operation, each animal must be accurately weighed so that the correct dosage of anaesthetic is administered and SSPCA has recently acquired a professional veterinary ‘walk on’ scale, which makes this procedure more precise,” she said.

In addition, the organisation has received 600 animal collars in a variety of sizes and colours, which are being sold for R15 to R20 each.

As for SSPCA’s future plans, Ms Rose-Innes said, “we are meeting regularly with the government to update the Animal Cruelty Act so that it is more in line with international standards.”

Some 10,000 brochures for SSPCA’s new membership scheme are also being printed. “We are going to distribute them in strategic places like police stations and hotels,” she said, adding that even tourists are going to be encouraged to join their efforts for a contribution of 20 Euros to become a member.

The brochures highlight what SSPCA has achieved to date, its current activities and future plans, she said.