STERILISING
In line with worldwide thinking on population control, KAPS places
sterilisation at the top of its agenda to limit the exploding numbers
of animals, especially dogs.
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In the households of the poor a dog must earn its keep. It may
be a status symbol, a guardian, a plaything for the children,
or - all too often - a means of producing puppies to sell for
R10 or R20 each. Puppies are so easily available that people tell
us to put down their adult dog because "we've got a new puppy
instead". Thus a vicious cycle is created: dogs are expendable
because they are so easily replaced.
We have countless horror stories about starved bitches producing
weak and sickly pups that are taken away and sold at 4 weeks old.
Then the mother herself will often be abandoned. |
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Pups
from a starving mother don't stand a chance |
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This kind of thinking is the reason why KAPS is adamant about sterilising
for free. Unaware of the benefits of sterilisation, animal owners in the
poor communities will never consider voluntarily spaying or neutering.
Many are instinctively opposed to the idea, even if they are not planning
to breed. If it costs them money, it will never be done.
Without sterilisation the streets will be overrun with starving, mangy,
unwanted dogs scavenging and making themselves a nuisance and a health
risk.
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Dr
Banderker and Salome come to us from Cape Town, a 9-hour
round trip |
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Thus
KAPS's philosophy is twofold.
(1)
We bring regular programmes of free sterilisation into all the
deprived communities we serve. To do this we engage veterinarians
(kind souls who are willing to charge us welfare rates) to travel
to the Little Karoo and stay over for one, two or three days
at a time, while we pay their travel, accommodation and fees.
We find a local hall or community centre where an ad hoc operating
room is set up, and the doctor performs as many as 34 sterilisations
in a day.
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(2) We campaign for municipalities to enforce laws against backyard
breeding and apply heavy financial penalties.
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Not only dogs need sterilising, of course. The most humane way
to control the feral cat population (and reduce predation on our
wildlife) is to sterilise the household cat.
And we have several times stepped in to geld horses and donkeys,
especially in cases where stallions have been so crazed when nearby
mares come into season that they create havoc and even trample
foals to death.
BENEFITS OF STERILISATION
* Disease control. In deprived communities, owners don't vaccinate
their pets. Distemper epidemics regularly break out in some of
KAPS's areas. Another disease that is rife is TVT - Transmissible
Venereal Tumour - a fatal cancer affecting the genitals, eyes
and mouth. Many other transmissible diseases are spread when bitches
in season are chased by males.
* Disease prevention. Numerous serious conditions in dogs can
be prevented by sterilisation, including prostatic disease, perineal
hernia, testicular tumours and peri-anal adenomas. Spaying females
prevents pregnancy complications, infections of the ovaries and
uterus, and mammary diseases including cancer.
* Prevention of unwanted behaviour. At the same time as preventing
straying, the chances of dog-fights and traffic accidents are
reduced. Sterilisation prevents unacceptable sexual behaviour
towards other dogs and humans, and helps control aggression, dominance
and frustration.
Welfare societies are overflowing with animals needing homes,
and are forced to euthanase thousands every day. Breeding simply
adds to this toll of misery and death.
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Operating
in a community centre |
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Gelding
a donkey |
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Sterilisation
waiting room |
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