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Cat fines don’t violate rights: DM
DUBAI - The Dubai Municipality has categorically stated that a decision to impose fines on people feeding stray cats is based on the civic body’s keenness on public health and safety and it no way denies people’s right to love animals.
The statement was issued by Hashim Mohammed Al Awadhi, head of the Veterinary Section of the Department of Public Health Services at the municipality.
The statement came after an outcry from animal lovers against the municipality’s decision to impose a fine of Dh200 on people found feeding stray cats. Several people took to social media to criticise the move saying it is against the religious beliefs and amounts to cruelty against animals. People also called for more measures to reduce the number of stray cats.
“We are aware of what our religion teaches on how to be merciful towards animals in our life,” said Al Awadhi. “But what we forget too often is the threat these animals pose toward the health safety of the citizens of the society,” he noted.
“Many of these animals, especially the non-registered and non-vaccinated ones, transmit diseases to human beings and create lethal damages especially to the health of those who lack good immune system like elderly and children,” he said.
Diseases generally transmitted by the animals include rabies and toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that affects those who frequently deal with infected cats, the official noted.
“Toxoplasmosis may lead to abortions of pregnancy and deformation of the human organs. A cat bite or scratch may cause painful burning and swelling in the body.”
The official clarified that the fine is declared to support the ongoing efforts to reduce the number of stray cats and to make people aware of the dangers posed by the cats that are not registered and vaccinated.
No fine has been registered so far, he said, adding that a fine of Dh200 is levied only if a person repeats the violation even after being warned in the first instance being caught feeding stray cats. He said the municipality has implemented a comprehensive programme that has been approved by the World Society for the Protection Of Animals to catch and sterilise stray cats. “After sterilising their reproductive system, they would be freed (in) the locations they had been collected from,” said Al Awadhi.— sajila@khaleejtimes.com
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