|
Title |
: |
AVA to consult
residents and grassroots over issue of stray cats |
|
By |
: |
|
|
Date |
: |
15
June 2003 1958 hrs (SST) |
|
URL |
: |
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/42249/1/.html
|
The Agri-Food and
Veterinary Authority is planning open discussions with residents and
grassroots to gauge public sentiment on the issue of stray cats.
On Sunday. about 40 people, calling themselves "Friends of Animals",
took to the streets to distribute ribbons and bookmarks in support of
the sterilisation of cats as opposed to culling them.
And while animal welfare groups like these have recently been visible
and vocal, from now, theirs is not the only voice that is going to be
heard on the issue of stray cats.
Residents islandwide, regardless of whether they like cats or not, will
have a say.
After all, some people who think they are helping are actually a big
part of the problem.
Lim Swee Say, Environment Minister, said: "Some members of the public,
out of concern and good intention, they decided to leave left over food
in the areas for the strays. I think they didn't realise that in the
process, they are creating a public health problem."
Meanwhile Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and
the Arts, called for a balanced approach, which reflected public needs.
He said: "Some control measure is necessary to ensure that population of
strays doesn't go astray. And I hope that the cat lovers also will
understand why sometimes reduction in the stray population is
necessary."
For a start, the Government is releasing land for animal groups to house
strays and tenders open on Monday.
|
|
