PAWS

PAWS conducts lectures and demonstration on

Animal Control and Humane Euthanasia workshops

in the Visayas region

PAWS Shelter Veterinarian Dr Wilford C. Almoro was main lecturer for the seminar and workshops on Animal Control Management and Humane Euthanasia organized by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) last year.

These talks were held in in various key areas in Visayas, namely in Cebu City on March 28 to April 2, 2011; in Catarman, Samar on August 2-5  and in Tagbilaran, Bohol on September 13-16, 2011. Impounding facility employees, dog catchers, vaccinators, as well as City, Municipal and Provincial Veterinarians participated in the said lectures and workshops.


Dr. Wilford Almoro as he lectures on common diseases of stray animals

All over the Philippines, cities and municipalities are mandated to catch stray dogs in order to prevent rabies Sadly, there are more programs launched by local government units (LGU) for animal control or catching strays than spay-neuter programs.

Given this situation and while animal welfare groups like PAWS are intensifying their lobby for spay-neuter in communities, the training of Pound officials about humane pound management, dog-catching and proper euthanasia remain a paramount concern.


Dr. Almoro lecturing participants during the pound visit

Many officials are not aware that tambucho-killing (gassing via vehicle exhaust fumes) is already against the law. Many dog-catchers still use the cruel noose-wire (“silo” made out of thin, sharp wires) in catching stray dogs.

Veterinarians are not called upon to inject barbiturates to put unclaimed dogs to sleep humanely. Instead, the unclaimed dogs are hit on the head by a “dos-por-dos” (piece of wood) or sold off in loosely-approved ‘adoptions’ ending up as hapless victims of the cruel and illegal dog meat trade.


Proper dog handling


Euthanasia demonstration


Proper dog handling  trainor Rigo Neyra with Ricknel Rambonga of PAWS

Almoro knew just how important this is to the advocacy and made sure he was prepared with not just a lecture on the principles of why animals deserve to be treated with respect – even unwanted, homeless animals – but also a complete demonstration, and all the materials to be used for proper handling, restraining and injecting of the animals.

“It is inevitable that impounding facilities will put down unclaimed and ill animals. Euthanasia comes from the Greek words which mean “intentional good death,” and what Filipinos have had to confront is the method in which Euthanasia is performed—animal suffering, as a consequence for lack of training or funding, is unacceptable, “ says Almoro.

Joining the shelter veterinarian for the workshop was PAWS’ caretaker, Ricknel Rambonga, who showed how a net can be used properly by City Pound dog catchers in order to minimize stress and potential injuries on a stray animal that needs to be caught..  



Ricknel Rambonga practicing use of slip leash on muzzling a dog

The Humane Euthanasia Training session discussed the various techniques of euthanasia used in the field, their mode of action, pros and cons, as well as how humane these techniques are. Everyone was in agreement that a painless, fast euthanasia method should be the only one used in the Philippines, and that the barbiturates needed for such should be made easily available to the country.


Participants of Trainers Training on Animal Control and Humane Euthanasia in Cebu City

After the seminars and workshops in Tagbilaran, Bohol, Dr. Almoro also headed a Spay-Neuter outreach for the local residents with veterinarians trained by the Humane Society International. Locals were educated of the importance of sterilizing one’s pet, as a part of Responsible Pet Ownership, and as an effective way of preventing pet overpopulation, which leads to more stray animals and more animals euthanized in the pounds.


Dr. Wilford Almoro during a spay surgery


The provincial vet of Bohol, Dr. Stella Marie D. Lapiz  with one of the pet owners

Educating one’s self is winning half the battle. To find out how you can volunteer, sponsor a Spay-neuter drive or seminar, or how you can educate and help your local community, log on to www.paws.org.ph.

For more photos, click on the following links:

https://picasaweb.google.com/adminpawsweb/TrainersTrainingOnAnimalControlAndHumaneEuthanasiaCebuCity

https://picasaweb.google.com/adminpawsweb/AnimalControlMgmtAndHumaneEuthanasiaTrainingCatarmanSamar

https://picasaweb.google.com/adminpawsweb/SpayAndNeuterOutreachPanglaoIslandBohol