|
|
|
|
|
Education
As important as the Neuter and Return program is, the need to
educate the population about the role animals play in a modern
society is equally important. Our goal is to promote harmony
between animals and humans.
We maintain a high profile within the Fethiye news media, and
we have had live TV interactive shows. Newspaper reports and
articles appear regularly, and we have a colourful leaflet for
schoolchildren, thanks to the sponsorship of NCDL, England,
which illustrates the benefits of proper animal care.
Our Centre now has a steady stream of visitors,
which provides a ready-made education centre as we encourage
the people to touch and handle the dogs. The eyes of the children
who are allowed to hold a puppy for the first time is a sight
to see, and a positive sign for the future.
We allow visitors to see all parts of the centre, including
the operating rooms for the not-so-squeamish! We are anxious
that our program should eventually extend to all of Turkey,
and we need to gain as much publicity as possible.
The Turkish Government has not passed the necessary Animal Protection
laws that will in future forbid local authorities from the indiscriminate
poisoning of stray animals. Our message to these authorities
is that there is an alternative now available to them –
the adoption of a Neuter and Return program. |
Some authorities
are now implementing their own program, following our lead.
A case in point is the regional capital, Mugla. The Mayor was
so impressed by the Fethiye success that in October 2001 he
invited us to train his vets in high-speed, high-volume sterilization
surgery, and they have now set up their own Neuter and Return
program.
We need to convince more authorities that Neuter and Return
is the only effective method to reduce the stray population.
A Television article about our work has featured on the German
TV channel, WDR, in 2001 which showed the work we are doing,
and a follow-up report appeared the following year when the
local population was asked about the benefits to them. Without
exception, the people interviewed were in praise of the difference
the Neuter and Return program has made to the numbers of street
dogs around, and to the health of the dogs in general. |
|
|
