02/22/22 World Spay Day
22. 2. 2022. Marks castration as an effective method of preventing animal suffering and death
- Make castrations mandatory, co-finance castrations, and encourage citizens to castrate animals
Today is World Spay Day, and the Animal Friends Croatia organization is encouraging everyone to castrate the animals in their care: „Excessive unwanted reproduction of dogs and cats is the primary cause of abandoning animals, which are then left in overpopulated shelters or suffer alone, sick, hungry, thirsty, poisoned, suffocated, drowned, wounded, trampled... Let us not forget that, over a seven-year period, a single female dog and her offspring can give birth to 67 000 puppies and a single cat and her offspring can give birth to as many as 420 000 kittens, putting an enormous strain on shelters, local communities, and animal protection organizations.“
In Croatia alone, there are thousands of stray animals, and shelters are overflowing with puppies and kittens. The only way to stop their constant arrival is to neuter and spay them. Castration can also improve an animal's physical and mental health, as well as make it easier for it to coexist with humans. As a result, veterinarians consider this routine procedure an extremely important part of responsible animal care and recommend that it be performed before the animal enters its first estrous cycle.
„It is heinous to abandon pregnant animals. They are unable to care for themselves, and organizations and volunteers are unsure of where to place them. Castration effectively addresses the underlying cause of this issue and prevents animal suffering and death. Local communities that (co)-finance the castration of dogs and cats in care have fewer abandoned animals and, as a result, significant budget savings“, says Dr. Med. Vet. Svjetlana Prodanoviæ, supervisor of the project Animal Protection Network, which is part of the Animal Friends Croatia organization.
She explains that World Spay Day began in 1995 as an event organized by Hollywood actress Doris Day and her Doris Day Animal League organization. Since then, on the last Tuesday of February, more than 70 countries around the world have continued to emphasize the importance of castrating both male and female dogs and cats in order to reduce the number of abandoned animals, prevent the spread of numerous diseases, and improve their overall health.
Animal Friends Croatia recently printed and distributed their new educational brochure – „Castration reduces dog and cat abandonment“. In it, they cite the uncontrolled breeding of owned dogs and cats as the primary cause of the problem, which, along with non-microchipping, contributes to the ever-increasing population of stray animals. They believe that castration of pet dogs and cats, as well as wild cats, is the solution. Local governments can impose mandatory castration to limit pet dog and cat breeding (with exceptions), fund castrations, and encourage citizens to neuter their pets.
This month, they launched the „Pay For Spay“campaign, with the goal of raising funds for free castrations of dogs and cats in earthquake-damaged areas of Sisak-Moslavina county. Many Croatian celebrities, including Matea Frajsberger, Zdenka Kovaèièek, Marija Omaljev, Miraj Grbiæ, Mario Valentiæ, Dunja Vejzoviæ, and others, have expressed their support for the cause. „We hope to raise 300 000 kuna, thus doubling Astra Business Engineering's donation, in order to neuter and spay 1 000 animals. Anyone interested in free castration of their dog or cat in veterinary clinics in Sisak, Petrinja, and Glina can call 095 4 254 254 or send a text message on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.“, says Dr. Med. Vet. Svjetlana Prodanoviæ.
„We urge everyone not to abandon animals, and to adopt rather than buy dogs and cats, as well as castrate their pets, and wild cats, in order to contribute to the well-being of both animals and people through responsible behavior“, says Animal Friends Croatia.