Dear Editor,
When a Trinidadian veterinarian technician, Neerie, recently visited our country she told me a story of an amazing young boy who listened to good advice and did the right thing. When the CAAT (Canadian Animal Assistance Team) went to Trinidad a couple of years ago, mainly to spay and neuter cats and dogs, some vets took time off their busy schedule to give talks at a few schools. They explained why they volunteer their time to travel thousands of miles to many countries all over the world to spay and neuter animals. They talked about the large number of animals born each year to 1 female dog, (between 7 and 25 puppies) and how difficult it is to find good homes for all these animals. And they talked about how people abuse those animals without homes and owners and how their offspring are often strayed or euthanized. They talked about the sickness female dogs can get when they produce too many offspring – for example, cancer, venereal diseases, and tumours – and how many of these animals just die from hunger, thirst and neglect when they get sick. In the audience was a young boy whose family owned three female dogs; he listened with great interest and that afternoon he went home and told his parents what he had learnt. The parents paid little attention to what he said. Early the next morning he tied his dogs, told his parents not to feed them and went to school. After school, he went home untied his dogs and walked three miles to the centre where the vets were just finishing their work. It was getting dark and the Canadians were already packing to leave for the day. However, seeing this young boy with his dogs and knowing he ‘had got’ the message caused the vets to reflect on the impact their talks at the schools must have made. They unpacked and immediately spayed the three females. They drove him and his dogs home and thanked the boy and his parents.
Hearing that story made a big impact on me, and I realize now, more than ever, that we must spread that message especially in our schools of compassion for all animals, especially for dogs and cats, and stress spaying and neutering as the best answer for population control.
Ours are the voices for the animals; say yes to spaying and neutering and no to over-population.
Yours faithfully,
Syeada Manbodh
