Men and canines take stride with TAPA after tsunami

by Ishan Fernando

Animals have been considered both a blessing and a curse simultaneously for most countries, especially with regard to overpopulation. Sri Lanka has been smothered by the same dilemma time in and time out.

Following the havoc caused by the tsunami it was inspiring how much aid came for people, and for animals.

Many non-government and government organisations now have a good picture of what needs to be done. This article presents some of my experience in the past two years, gained from working with the Tsunami Animal-People Alliance (TAPA).

TAPA sterilises and vaccinates dogs primarily in the tsunami zones to reduce the risk of rabies and dog bites while humanely controlling the animal population. I believe we must look into this problem as a nation, and not as lone individuals, in order to solve the it.

As a member of TAPA, I have come to believe that there is a solution for this quandary, but this solution must be will planned financially, and include community involvement and government cooperation. We must recall the words to Mahatma Gandhi: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."

No easy task

To this day the Tsunami Animal-People Alliance has worked in Thirukkovil, Komari, Pottuvil, Arugambay, Panama, Kirinde, Boondala, Hambantota, Nonagama, Ambalantota, Tangalle, Hikkaduwa, Payagala, Panadura, Moratuwa and now, with corporate sponsorship is beginning to work in Colombo. Our goal is to sterilise 60-90% of the dogs in each community. TAPA has sterilised over 10,000 stray and 'community' dogs, but this only begins to touch an iota of the islandwide problem.

I have learned that even though many people think that most of the dogs in Sri Lanka are strays, they are actually 'community' dogs. These dogs may not have individual masters but they are looked after by a neighbourhood in both urban and rural settings.

Sterilisation and Anti-rabies mobile clinics are rarely seen by the public, so it has been very rewarding how the communities joined with us in the journey once they understood what we were trying to achieve. Education of both adults and youth is crucial.

And we also owe gratitude to the Public Health Inspectors who helped in many ways to implement our work in their areas.

The global experience teaches that Sri Lanka cannot solve the overpopulation problem with a catch-kill approach. First, from a scientific viewpoint, it simply does not work. Dogs are territorial. Mass killing of dogs just invites other dogs to enter they empty territory to take advantage of less competition for food and mates.

Nature may also compensate by increasing litter sizes - and soon, the problem may be even worse despite the killing. We need a stable, healthy and rabies free dog population.

But even more importantly from a philosophical viewpoint, every life has its right. Destroying a healthy life is not decision that should be made by humans, but by Mother Nature. However, in developing the philosophy of human nature and its existence, rules must be designed to match the betterment of both people and nature.

People are beginning to be more aware of animal welfare in Sri Lanka, but there is a long way to go to change attitudes. The task is not easy: we must work towards the goal little by little, building a firm foundation for a better future.

It is especially important that we spread the idea of responsible pet ownership, which includes sterilising pets. Many of the dogs on the street today have started out on the streets with their 'supposed' owners dumping unwanted pets or their offspring, or allowing them to roam freely without first being sterilized. The animals are dependent on us even in this modern society.

Our four-legged friends who feel pain and hunger just as we do, they look to their neighbourhood masters to help them survive.

Importance of youth and success

Another key lesson I have learned is the importance of introducing our young people to animal welfare. We much make a special effort to get them started, but as a matter of fact, youth already has made significant contributions in both helping the animals as well as raising awareness. Change comes from with the next generation: youth bring new ideas and can often make change happen more quickly.

Our young people need our encouragement to stay on the right path as well as to improve that path. Although I am young, I now have significant experience working with animals and believe that youth has a responsibility to stand for the welfare of animals.

Need for unity

Today many animal welfare groups, animal activists and concerned individuals have made great contributions to improving animal welfare, providing many opportunities to focus on animal welfare in Sri Lanka.

However, we must think collectively about the future and lay aside individual expectations. An animal welfare umbrella organization is seriously needed in Sri Lanka to unite our animal welfare organizations so they can speak with a combined louder voice.

Such a federation will also allow us to pool our efforts to bring about legal reforms as well as to explore and develop mechanism to improve animal welfare which is so strongly linked to improving the welfare of Sri Lanka's people.