The Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare (MSAW) Volunteer Programme was launched on Tuesday 4 October 2022 during the official inauguration of the Plaine Magnien Animal Station (PMAS) in Plaine Magnien, in the context of World Animal Day 2022. This Programme will give the opportunity to volunteers to collaborate with MSAW officers so as to take care of dogs at the PMAS.
The Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Medha Gunputh; the Chairman of the MSAW Council, Mr Didier Pursun; the Director of the MSAW, Mr Julien Georges; and other personalities were present at the inauguration ceremony.
In his address, SCE Gunputh highlighted that World Animal Day, commemorated every 4thof October, reminds us that animals have rights and that we must endeavour towards animal welfare. He indicated that the closure of the Animal Home in Port Louis has been the first step towards a more humane and comprehensive approach towards the welfare of animals, especially dogs.
He underscored that the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security has provided the PMAS to MSAW so that dogs can be accommodated in a more comfortable and friendly atmosphere, where people interested in adopting dogs will be able to better interact with the animals. The PMAS, he stated, has a dedicated team for the welfare of the animals, with a strict protocol regarding impounding procedures, feeding of animals and veterinary visits.
Furthermore, Mr Gunputh observed that a mini clinic is being set up at the PMAS so as to provide adequate health care to the animals and carry out the mass sterilisation programme together with the ‘catch, neuter, release’ project. He seized this opportunity to commended the MSAW for having provided a running park for the dogs at the Station as well as having catered for sick dogs with isolation kennels.
The SCE moreover informed that amendments have been brought to the Animal Welfare Act under the Finance Act 2022 so as to empower MSAW’s officers for the monitoring of animal welfare around the country. He also appealed to animal lovers, in the context of World Animal Day 2022, to reflect on our responsibility towards animals.
For his part, Mr Pursun stressed on the importance of animal welfare and on the need to ensure that the MSAW’s staff carries out its duty in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act. He expressed the wish that same facilities as the PMAS are implemented in other regions of the country for the welfare of animals.
Pets, he said, are not only good friends for young children, but also enable the latter to develop a sense of responsibility. This sense of responsibility must also be developed by adults so as to tackle the problem of stray dogs around the country in the future, he added.