This Fall, Animals Need Me and JETA: Tier und Mensch have partnered to bring sterilization clinics to Shkodër and Durrës.
Why sterilization? Sustainable sterilization programs are one of the fundamental tools to humanely address dog and cat populations that have exceeded the capacity of the local community to adequately care for them. This is certainly the case throughout Albania. By spaying and neutering just one male and one female cat, more than 2,000 unwanted births can be prevented in four years (Source: North Shore Animal League). Sterilizing just one male and one female dog can prevent 67,000 unwanted puppies in six years (Source: North Shore Animal League). Humane Society International also states, “On the whole, animals who have been sterilized at an early age tend to live longer, healthier lives, potentially increasing their lifespans by an average of one to three years for dogs, and three to five years for cats.”
While the data speaks for itself and both organizations regularly focus on sterilizations, the question for every animal rights organizations is how to increase efficiency, i.e. more sterilizations, despite financial restraints and limited staff.
The two organizations decided to try a campaign where veterinarians would focus exclusively on sterilizations over a three-day period. Veterinarians wouldn’t be required to do the catch and release of the street animals, they would simply operate the entire day. Specialized volunteers would catch and release the street animals, and other volunteers would handle administrative tasks and streamline the process.
And while these types of intense campaigns often recruit foreign volunteer veterinarians to perform the surgeries, Jenny Hasanaj-Müller, Founder of JETA: Tier und Mensch, insisted they hire local veterinarians. She explained that while the organizations obviously work on animal rights and welfare, they also are working on development. By including local vets in the project, this allows the vet to become aware of the situation – for their own clinics but also for the “social work” they can do for their own communities.
“Veterinarians are the key to sensitization and education. These local veterinarians can pass on the importance of sterilization to clients, school groups, and other vets,” she explained. The more vets and technicians who understand the importance of neutering, the more people know to do it (and that it is safe). Ideally, each city in Albania can also develop their own sterilization projects.
The project helps not only street animals but also locals who wish to sterilize their pets or animals they care for. Prior to the September 30 kickoff in Shkodër, the groups posted on Instagram and Facebook. Oli Pero, Founder of Animals Need Me, said the response to the campaign was overwhelming. Low-income families, foster parents, and people with 5+ cats were allowed to preregister in order to create an orderly schedule and maximize results.
And maximize results they did. The team of three veterinarians, one technician and ten volunteers sterilized 128 animals in Shkodër. In addition to sterilizations, the animals were dewormed, given post-surgery medication (antibiotics) and flea medication on site, as needed.
The organizations plan to repeat the project in Durrës from October 21-23. Volunteers and staff will promote the project prior to the sterilization days. Pet owners or people who feed or help stray animals at their place of business or home are encouraged to contact JETA: Tier und Mensch prior to 21 October to schedule an appointment.
Donations and volunteers are also needed. The cost is approximately 3500 leke (~ 32€) per animal. With more funds and support, more sterilization campaigns will be planned in the future. If you wish to participate at any level, please reach out! Your help creates an Albania where fewer animals suffer.
—————
Animals Need Me: https://www.animalsneedmealbania.com/
JETA: Tier und Mensch: www.jetatierundmensch.ch
To support the project in Shkodër, donate to @animalsneedme via Paypal and reference “Spay-neuter Shkodra 2022″
For the project in Durrës, you can donate to @jeta_tier_und_mensch Paypal: [email protected], with the dedication “Spay-neuter Durres 2022”
