Open dog sanctuary for stray dogs

25 May 2011 01:40 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 13 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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The Health Ministry will establish an open dog sanctuary to take care of stray dogs in an extent of two acres in Anuradhapura, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said today.

He said this step is taken in a bid to control stray dog density and thereby to bring down dog bites. Sounding alarm on the steady increase of stray dog’ density, Minister Sirisena instructed officials to carry out anti- rabies campaign to restrict the spread of rabies.

Chairing the monthly progressive meeting of the Health Ministry, Minister Sirisena quoting latest data pointed out that the dog density in the country has surpassed 2.5 million mark and immediate steps have to be taken to restrict its further increase.

There have been 10 rabies deaths in the first four months of 2011 while about 400,000 dogs have been sterilized. Some one million dogs have been vaccinated last year. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)

Comments - 13

Don Wednesday, 25 May 2011 01:56 PM

Good idea. Better if you could allocate more than 2 acres for poor animals.

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I Hussein Wednesday, 25 May 2011 02:13 PM

Mr Minister, Its good, actually this should have been started long back. There must be system get rid of all stray animal in the country, its not only a mance but also posing danger in many ways.
You find stray animals on the road only in south asia and in Africa. Clear sign of 3rd world.

5 54

Animal Lover Wednesday, 25 May 2011 02:24 PM

A very good thing to be done for stray dogs . GOOD LUCK !

3 57

Dog-lover too. Thursday, 26 May 2011 02:23 AM

Great idea, providing there is public awareness that dogs in the wild form hunting packs, and also I wonder what will be done about feeding them. But much better than to have them lonely and separate in concrete and iron cages, or on the roads, starving to death and being abused, Well done, Minister. It's also so good to see the work being done on sterilization and vaccination, in a country with limited resources.

2 14

dava Thursday, 26 May 2011 02:21 AM

Good idea!! Just great.....

2 19

Calistus Jayatilleke Thursday, 26 May 2011 02:37 AM

Whilst congratulating the Minister for this excellent move, one would also hope that there would be a sanctuary to keep the two-legged ones who play havoc in their electorates inconveniencing the public also away from the public domain.

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Sydney Jayawardene Thursday, 26 May 2011 03:03 AM

This is a very good move and a practical solution. Dogs have been brought to the society by people. Now they cannot survive in a jungle. Many people will help this. Who knows this can be made a tourist attraction. Animal lovers may flock.

2 16

BowWowIamADog Thursday, 26 May 2011 03:07 AM

Good things have to be encouraged.good move.

2 17

Asoka Munaweera Thursday, 26 May 2011 04:04 AM

This is the best news I heard and will be appreciated by all animal lovers. It has been tragic to see the amount of cruelty meted out to dogs in a so called Buddhist country where much is preached about kindness & precepts of Buddhism but has not been followed. It will be interesting to watch what happens and how this functions. I am sure lots of people would assist in many ways to see that this facility functions efficiently and would also fund it. GOOD LUCK to the Minister for his brave venture and probably the first of its kind in the history of Sri Lanka. I will support this cause whole heartedly.

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Dr. A.N C Perera Thursday, 26 May 2011 05:52 AM

A good move, if implemented properly! Two acres of land is fine, provided the animals are looked after. Dogs are far too domesticated to fend for themselves. They need to be fed regular meals, water needs to be provided, regularly treated for ticks and fleas etc. Furthermore some animals have not been socialized to live with other animals.
I hope this project is properly thought through otherwise it will be a hellish life for the poor animals.

2 9

willows Thursday, 26 May 2011 05:36 AM

This is one of the best news we heard for some time, keep up the good work Sir, what about the stray cats??? think about them too.

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Sean Thursday, 26 May 2011 07:38 AM

As a animal lover i welcome this move

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T.BANDARA Thursday, 26 May 2011 06:07 PM

First take the two legged dogs from Kelaniya.
A Lankan

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