ANIMAL welfare activists in Bahrain have expressed outrage following claims that several stray dogs were found shot dead in Askar.
In response to pictures circulating on social media, the Bahrain Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) said it deplored the alleged killings.
“This should stop immediately with effort put instead into addressing the causes of, and finding sustainable solutions to, strays and abandoned animals,” said deputy chairperson Yasmin Alhilli in a statement yesterday.
“These include strict regulations of the retail pet trade, a national pet registration scheme and acceleration of the announced establishment of a dog park in the Southern Governorate by the Municipalities and Agricultural Affairs Ministry.”
Animal and Environment Protection Charity Organisation (AEPCO) president Shaikha Marwa bint Abdulrahman Al Khalifa reiterated a call to treat the canines humanely.
“This is outrageous for a country that wants to respect international humanitarian laws,” she said.
“We have pleaded time and time again to do a national catch and release programme that opens the doors for international voluntary veterinarians to come to a central clinic on the island to spay and neuter a minimum of 30 dogs a day, in order to curb the population of the dogs.
“Shooting them will never solve this problem ever! It will only show Bahrain in a very dark and narrow perspective towards international animal rights.”
She pointed out that the most watched videos on social media are those of animal rescue.
“Yet we show our beautiful country in a very barbaric light that does not coincide with the vision of 2030 environmental laws,” added Shaikha Marwa.
“If the issue is protecting wildlife from the stray dogs, then you can simply solve that by not dumping them in the desert where wildlife exists.”
Inhumane
Also condemning the reported killings was Black Gold operations manager Ali Ebrahim.
The company works 24/7 capturing strays and transporting them to Askar.
“We do not allow brutal actions against any animal. This is inhumane. If we find anyone shooting an animal in Askar, we immediately report it to the BSPCA and AEPCO,” he said.
“All animals should be protected! It’s not fair that we take dogs from the street, then to a clinic and then to Askar only for them to get shot.”
A petition in February this year demanding an end to the inhumane treatment of stray dogs in Bahrain had received 2,804 signatures.
Bahrain Dumped Dogs founder Cheryl Nielson launched the petition on change.org in a bid to highlight the alleged targeted shooting of desert dogs in Bahrain and their lifeless remains that are dumped in Askar.
In her letter to the authorities, the animal activist who runs the unregistered organisation, appealed for strict action against those who harm animals, a shelter for strays, further financial support for spay programmes and a ban on breeding for profit.
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