(HK) SPCA to stop killing healthy pets

[Guest guest]

South China Morning Post Wednesday, January 2, 2002

http://www.scmp.com/toppage/ZZZ96PXSNVC.html

 

SPCA to stop killing healthy pets

EXCLUSIVE by ELLA LEE

 

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is to halt its

policy of putting down abandoned healthy animals because its vets are

frustrated at having to kill dozens of cats and dogs every week.

 

The practice of mercy killing after failing to find homes for unwanted

or abandoned pets will be abolished in June.

 

The society aims to counter the threat of a flood of strays being

dumped on the streets through a policy of education and counselling for pet

owners.

 

It is also considering discounted or free sterilisation operations for

pets. The operation now costs $400 to $500 for a dog, and $600 to $900 for a

bitch.

 

Only one in every 10 animals surrendered or rescued by the society is

found a new home. The rest - at least 30 a day - are put down and end up in

landfills or incinerators.

 

The society's 15 vets have told management they no longer want to kill

healthy animals.

 

The number of pets given to or collected by the society has increased

from 14,486 in the 1999-2000 financial year to 16,200 in 2000-01.

 

The number of animals humanely destroyed by the society rose from

9,754 to 10,661 during the same period.

 

" We are frustrated at having to put so many lovely animals to sleep

every day, " the society's chief veterinary surgeon, Dr Margaret Bradley,

told the South China Morning Post.

 

" Some of my colleagues have left the society because they could not

stand it any more. It is simply too depressing. "

 

At present, the society decides which pets should be kept after

assessing their health and whether they are too aggressive for adoption.

 

" The current policy is if a new puppy is given to us, an elder dog

that has lived here for more than a month has to go. We have to put him to

sleep, " Dr Bradley said.

 

The society has been criticised for killing pets too quickly without

allowing time for homes to be found for them. In 1999, one dog-owner

complained that his labrador retriever was put down within hours of being

handed over.

 

But the society insisted that the sheer volume of abandoned pets left

few options. To control overpopulation of unwanted pets it has appealed to

the public not to give animals as gifts.

 

Its public relations manager, Simon Leung Pak-suen, said: " Every year,

we notice that the number of abandoned pets increases by 10 per cent soon

after Christmas and New Year. Some people have been giving pets as gifts and

that is not something we encourage. "

 

The seven cat boxes provided by the society for people to drop in

unwanted pets will also be abolished in two years.

 

" In order to prevent people from dumping their pets on the streets, we

will have a high-profile publicity programme to encourage owners to have

their pets sterilised, " Mr Leung said.