SPCA
International Announces Success in Largest Sterilization Campaign ever
held by Spay Panama - 4 Day Effort Sterilizes 1,137 Pets and Stray
Animals in La Chorrera, Panama
SPCA
International, Spay Panama and Los Angeles de los Animales announce
their 50 hour effort to spay and neuter 1000 animals- in conjunction
with World Animal Day- was a huge success. Thanks to countless
hours donated by over 50 volunteers and veterinarians and funded by the
SPCA International’s grant award of $22,000, the Health Ministry, Civil Defense and many supporters, the massive effort to spay
and neuter more than 1000 pets succeeded. Spay Panama developed a
mobile sterilization team and MASH-type operation that moved its
operation to four different parts of La Chorrera in order to reach
multiple pet owners who have no means of travel.
The
4-day campaign was aimed at stopping the unnecessary deaths of homeless
animals in Panama. Spay Panama was founded in 2001, and thanks to
the support of SPCA International, the group attempted and succeeded to
reach up to 1,000 animals in a condensed time period. Once set up
in a local community center, Spay Panama’s team was able to prep,
operate and bring each animal to a post-op mat where the pets were
cleaned, de-wormed and given vitamin or rabies shots- all in a
few minutes each.
SPCA
International’s team working in Panama during this spay/neuter campaign
expressed amazement and admiration from witnessing the efficiency and
determination of Spay Panama’s team. They worked long hours
and then moved the operation team to the next day’s location.
Local people brought their pets in cardboard boxes, wheelbarrows, milk
crates or the backs of trucks and all were serviced, no matter how late
the hour was.
The
plight of female dogs in Panama is a life of trying to survive bearing
litter after litter. Often malnourished, these female animals
lose most of their puppies and kittens due to the dangers of the
streets such as little or no food, and passing cars and trucks.
According to animal experts with Spay Panama, male dogs that are not
neutered often run wild in the streets trying to mate and too often get
hit by cars. Un-altered male and female cats also become regular
victims of violence due to their loud and bothersome “cat calls” during
heat that can last for days at a time.
All
of these issues stem from a lack of sterilization and the cycle is only
perpetuated because the overpopulation of animals causes citizens to
harbor ill-will against the helpless dogs and cats. This leads to
more animal abuse, more senseless death, and little interest in the one
true and lasting solution – to spay and neuter.
