Municipal councillors have strongly rejected accusations that they are trying to stop people from showing compassion to stray animals, insisting the real target is irresponsible feeding practices that create health hazards, attract larger numbers of stray cats and dogs, and leave neighbourhoods littered.
Northern Municipal Council chairman Dr Sayed Shubbar Al Wedaie stressed that no-one was being prevented from feeding stray cats, dogs or migrating birds responsibly at their homes or on their doorsteps.
“My daughter, who is currently abroad, had me buy pet food for stray cats and we put it on our doorstep,” he said. “I continue to provide them with water too. However, I don’t move from one area to another feeding stray cats and dogs and causing chaos.”
Dr Al Wedaie said the debate was never about compassion towards animals, but about protecting residential areas from the consequences of random feeding using leftovers and food waste.
He warned that the growing number of stray cats and dogs in neighbourhoods had become an exceptional public concern because of the risks posed to residents, public health and environmental cleanliness.
“The problem lies in random and irresponsible feeding practices that violate the Public Cleanliness Law, damage the surrounding environment and contribute to the spread of stray cats and dogs in residential areas,” he said.
“The roots of the issue also lie in misunderstanding what animal welfare really means. Kindness towards animals should go hand in hand with organised legal and municipal procedures that protect both the animals and the community.”
Dr Al Wedaie called for a comprehensive approach that includes enforcing existing cleanliness regulations, strengthening municipal inspections and launching awareness campaigns explaining the dangers of indiscriminate feeding.
He also urged closer co-operation between government agencies to regulate feeding practices and ensure that efforts to care for stray cats and dogs do not create wider social, environmental and health problems.
Council services and public utilities committee chairwoman Zainab Al Durazi echoed the chairman’s remarks, saying the council was being unfairly portrayed as opposing animal welfare.
“Feeding leftovers and unsuitable food is inhumane,” she said. “Moving from one area to another, leaving food waste behind and littering public places is illegal, while throwing accusations against the council is simply unfair.”
Ms Al Durazi said residents should distinguish between responsible feeding and practices that encourage the uncontrolled gathering of stray cats and dogs in residential districts.
She stressed that the council supports humane treatment of animals, but within an organised framework that safeguards public hygiene and neighbourhood safety.
According to councillors, the proposed measures include applying penalties against illegal feeding that breaches cleanliness laws, increasing municipal monitoring, introducing joint awareness programmes with relevant authorities and encouraging all sectors of society to promote responsible behaviour.
They also called on schools, community organisations and the media to help raise awareness about keeping public spaces clean while caring for stray cats and dogs responsibly and lawfully.
The councillors insisted that compassion and public order are not mutually exclusive, arguing that responsible feeding, rather than indiscriminate food dumping, is the best way to protect both stray animals and the communities in which they live.
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