Dear Editor,
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) jointly with the Humane Society International (HSI) held their annual global educational and training conference from April 6-9 on animal care and protection. We attended as animal advocates.
The four days of comprehensive and interactive workshops included emergency service professionals, responders, veterinarians, shelter organizations, field and medical workers for rural communities in poor countries, and slide presentations narrated by experienced and qualified personnel from various animal associations.
The HSUS slogan is ‘Celebrating animals/confront-ing cruelty. We strive to foster respect and compassion for animals and to prevent their suffering; to create a more humane world by educating the public about animal issues, by pushing for the passage of laws to protect animals. We celebrate the human-animal bond and all of the richness that animals bring to our lives. They are unable to speak [but] feel pain the same way as you.’
The enormous global issues on animal welfare and preservation provided a deeper understanding of the constant tasks and challenges that confront the HSUS and HSI. A brief overview follows for some topics relevant to Guyana’s animals and their manner of mistreatment from a sector of the culture.
The HSUS condemns the sadistic practices by people in some countries that profit off the underground dog-fighting rings. Dogs, usually pit bulls, are bred and trained to fight each other to the death, and even after serious wounds they are allowed to continue, all for the amusement of spectators in a bid to win the highest wager. This bloody and cruel sport will leave many abandoned or mercilessly killed by gunshots. Dog-fighting has been outlawed in the USA and Canada as inhumane and a crime against dogs.
Dog-fighting not only hurts animals but also endangers a community’s safety; illegal drugs and firearms are commonly found at the scene of animal-fighting events. Young children brought to events are desensitized to violence and taught that cruelty is ‘acceptable.’
The HSUS and HSI world campaign for the benefit of society and the beautification of developing countries in order to boost tourism, is to spay and neuter pets to reduce unwanted litters being dumped onto the streets. Tourists view the people and government of a country negatively when they see many animals roaming the streets neglected and abandoned. Spaying is an operation involving the complete removal of both ovaries and the uterus of the female animal. Neuter (castration) is an operation involving the surgical removal of both testicles of a male animal. If this is practised, it will control over population.
The HSUS sustainable programmes in the rural communities of poor countries are directed to controlling the mistreatment of working animals, and preventing animal trafficking and poaching where animals are mutilated for commerce.
Free outreach field spay/neuter clinics are set up to handle street dogs for surgery. All the dogs are released back on the streets to live out their natural life with no chance of reproducing.
The society seeks to establish a humane educational programme in developing countries teaching the principles of justice, goodwill and humanity towards all life, and cultivating a spirit of kindness to animals. The habit of using animals in attendance in workshops will forge a bond that will touch people so they think differently, and this could see a sharp decline in animal oppression. There should be public awareness with the use of radio and TV, flyers, billboards and posters illustrating animals and people, accompanied by words of compassion. A programme will help children develop empathy and an understanding of fellow creatures and teach responsible animal guardianship.
Many sectors of cultures need to understand that animals are sentient beings and are not our enemies. They should be allowed to live out their natural lives whether in their own habitat or free roaming without pain and suffering.
Yours faithfully,
Zenobia Williams
Joyce Gomes
