KUWAIT CITY, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Kuwaitis and animal rights activists on Thursday held a peaceful stand in Kuwait City, calling for stopping poisoning stray animals.
The stand was held under a slogan "Spay Don't Poison." Participants of this stand called on the Kuwait's Public Authority Of Agriculture Affairs And Fish Resources and the Ministry of Health to stop the already applied measure.
Noura Al-Hadad, animal rights activist and organizer of the rally, said that the stand is for the right of the animals and to deal with the growing problem of stray dogs and street cats that are harmed, poisoned and abused.
"We are standing today against the poisoning of stray dogs, and we gather today to ask the authorities to stop poisoning the dogs," she said.
"There are many better ways to reduce the number of stray animals," she said, adding that "we wish people to live with these creatures and know their rights."
The problems start usually in newly populated areas, which were deserts inhabited by stray dogs and cats, she explained.
"Then people built the residential area and because of lack of awareness, they are afraid of stray animals," she noted.
"This peaceful stand, attended by dozens of people who are standing at a temperature of 50 degree, aims only to propose solutions other than poisoning," she said.
"People are here because of a video that spread on social media about helpless puppies, not more than 3 months old, who were poisoned and left to suffer to death," she said.
"That action must not be seen in a country of humanity," she stressed.
About how to avoid poisoning stray dogs, she said that the sterilization, which takes a period of time to be applied, is the best solution but it may take three to five years to see the results, she said.
"There should also be an awareness campaign in schools, media, social media and other channels about animals right," she noted.
"In addition, the government must put in place animal protection laws," she added.
