Charities Launch Guide in Effort to Reduce Canine Suffering
Published on November 6, 2008 by Freelance Contributors · 2 CommentsFresh hopes have been raised that an inspiring new guide may provide the real answer to the problem of street dogs around the world, and help reduce the suffering of millions of animals. The ‘A Template for Change’ guide was launched at the tenth International Companion Animal Welfare Conference (ICAWC) last week by animal charities Dogs Trust and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
The free guide, which combines the expertise and experience of the two charities, provides practical solutions for those areas with a street dog problem to set up trap, neuter and return (TNR) programmes where dogs are collected from the streets, taken for neutering by a qualified veterinary team and, after recovery, returned to the area from where they came.
After a hugely successful pilot scheme carried out by the charities in Oradea, Romania, neutering schemes have been proven to be the only effective method of stray dog population control.
Every week, millions of dogs around the globe are poisoned or shot in an effort by municipalities to rid their streets of stray dogs. But, as well as causing immense suffering to the animals, this approach is ineffective as a method of population control because the vacuum left is soon filled by other dogs from surrounding areas who move in to utilise the resources available.
Written by journalist and animal behaviourist Carolyn Menteith ‘A Template for Change’ explains exactly how and why TNR works. It also gives detailed advice on how animal welfare supporters can set up a TNR programme, including how to budget, build a centre from scratch, gather public support, and manage resources and assess results.
Dogs Trust Chief Executive Clarissa Baldwin and Chief Executive from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Jan Barlow said:
“’A Template for Change’ is a fantastic support tool that will enable people to help take control of stray dog populations across the world, making leaps forward not only for public health, but also for alleviating the suffering of millions of dogs who live often short and very difficult lives.
“Following our successful work in Romania and now as we spread the knowledge we have gained, we are optimistic that we can work towards true change for street dogs and the communities they live in across the world.”
To download a free copy of ‘A Template for Change’, please visit www.tnrdogs.com
Highly Recommended: This could be the most important link you EVER click as far as your dog’s life is concerned – see why….!
Tags: Animal Charities, Animal Welfare
Thank you very much for helping us get the word out about this free resource. There’s also a Facebook page with some info about the guide here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/TNR-Trap-Neuter-Return/30213318793
Well done to Dogs Trust and Battersea for caring about stray dogs in other countries….however what about the welfare nightmare that is being created due to the overbreeding of dogs in the UK?
Many of the animal charities will only take certain breeds themselves, so this equates to them operating breed specific entrance policies, which must mean these organisations support BSL, or otherwise they would take the dogs in? This contributes to why there are so many SBT’s in the rehoming chain, many of which are going to be euthanised because those searching for homes for them are blocked at every turn due to the non acceptance of ‘bull’ breeds by many animal charities, including some of the big ones.
With these unfortunate SBT’s and SBT types blocking the chain, kennel space is used up and there is no onward movement due to the reluctance in taking these type of dogs from stray dog kennels.
It is truly wonderful to be so devoted to international stray dog issues but surely the ‘template for change’ needs to start at home in the UK first and change peoples attitudes to dog ownership and also to get the government via DEFRA to be truly aware of what is really happening on the ground and at the coal face from those dealing with it.
Come on let’s get our own house in order before we go off sorting out other people’s problems, we really do have enough in the UK to be getting on with.
Are donations given by people in the UK to Dog’s Trust and Battersea Dogs Home used soley in the UK or is it spread around other international projects?