If you are going on holiday to Gran Canaria at the beginning of September, TARA animal shelter are running a dog and cat sterilisation programme and they need help.
Friends Helping Friends
TARA Animal Respect Association is coordinating a humane cat and dog sterilisation project with the Danish Friends of Animals, a dedicated animal advocacy group headquartered in Denmark (where else?). From 14 thru 21 September, these generous folks are donating medical personnel, pharmaceuticals, and equipment to neuter street cats and abandoned dogs housed in our community shelters and kennels. The goal is the sterilisation of 250 homeless cats and dogs. Every animal will also receive immunisation protection and treatment if injured or ill.
It has been estimated that in addition to 50,000 pet cats on Gran Canaria, there are at least 25,000 street cats living miserably on the peripheries of human society. These homeless animals tend to gather in groups known as feral feline colonies.
The root cause of so many feral felines is human abandonment of pet cats and kittens. Although life is a struggle and comparatively short for homeless cats, studies show that an average female feral feline will have 5 litters in her lifetime or more than 22 kittens. Without human intervention, this harsh reality equates to 3200 descendents in the life span of a typical female street cat.
Over the past 30 years, humane management of feral feline colonies has successfully been adopted by much of the western world. Such colonies have dedicated volunteers who provide food and water while proactively diminishing disease and population.
Over population of feral feline colonies can be controlled but two ways: Criminal poisoning (painful and horrific) or humane Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) projects. The latter is the only solution in an animal caring community like Gran Canaria.
Sterilization and caretaking in feral cat colonies reduces cat begging and foraging for food, disease, noisy courting and fighting, and territorial scent marking. Managed feral cat colonies become positive contributors in the local human community, controlling rodents and cockroaches, and providing clear evidence that local society cares enough to protect and respect its feral animal populations.
Now for the clarion call to action: TARA needs help from cat and dog champions in our community to carry out this humane endeavour. Professional training will be provided to each volunteer.
So whether you can give a little or a lot of time and energy, your efforts will contribute to the success (and insure) of this worthy and important project. If you want more information or wish to help, please contact Muriel, the TARA President and project coordinator, at 928-062891 or 634 328201 or email muriel@tara-animales.org.
Together We Can Make Gran Canaria A Paradise For Animals Too
Happy Paws & Claws