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The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries ordered an “immediate and definitive” end to campaigns to eradicate stray animals, denouncing “anarchic, savage and brutal” practices which “damage the image of Algeria”. A new national strategy, based on sterilization, vaccination and the creation of shelters, is now underway. This was indicated this Saturday in a press release from the ministry.
This decision is based on the prerogatives conferred on the ministry by the legislative and regulatory texts in force, which make it the exclusive authority in matters of animal health and protection in Algeria. In this regard, the authority announced that it would adopt a “modern, sustainable and compliant with international standards” approach, with the aim of managing the problem of stray animals.
According to the information provided in the press release, this ministerial strategy is based, firstly, on the establishment of sterilization and census programs intended to “control animal populations, progressively”. The animals will then be reintroduced into their environment, a method which allows, according to the ministry, to reduce numbers “naturally”, while curbing “uncontrolled reproduction”.
The upcoming creation of dedicated shelters is also among the priorities. “These structures, which will be placed under the responsibility of the State veterinary services, will offer temporary accommodation to stray animals,” said the authority. In the same spirit, the ministry indicates that it wants to encourage “responsible adoption” and back it up with educational campaigns on animal ownership, in order to limit abandonment.
This new direction follows information received by the ministry’s services on the persistence of “wild and brutal” slaughters in several municipalities in the country. The ministry’s services, in this sense, explained that they have been informed that “anarchic” slaughter operations of stray animals, particularly dogs and cats, are being carried out in several municipalities in the country, with brutal methods involving “the use of firearms, poisoning or even beatings to the point of death”.
“These practices are carried out without any coordination with our services, even though our department is, legally, the only competent authority in matters of health and animal protection,” lamented the authority. “These behaviors arouse the indignation of civil society and international organizations, which damages Algeria’s image on the international scene and exposes the country to criticism,” she revealed. These acts, she continued, also contravene “the ethical, human and religious values on which Algerian society is based”.
In this context, the ministry wished to recall that national and foreign experiences have demonstrated that massive slaughters do not constitute “a lasting solution”. Far from stemming the phenomenon, they cause an ecological imbalance that is quickly filled by other species, notably rats and various rodents, thus aggravating health problems, explained the authority.
Faced with this observation, the authorities are asking walis and presidents of municipal assemblies to “strictly comply” with the procedures established by the public veterinary services. “Any initiative affecting stray animals must, from now on, be previously validated by them and conducted according to precise protocols, defined at the national level,” underlined the same source.
Furthermore, the ministry calls for strengthening cooperation between local services and its own teams to implement national rabies vaccination programs. An action deemed “essential”, in order to protect public health and reduce the risks for citizens. The authority also underlined that it will be necessary to mobilize adequate material and human resources to guarantee the success of these actions throughout the territory.
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