Thursday, October 22, 2009

Chileans protest dog euthanasia plan

A move to euthanize Chile’s stray dogs has generated plenty of controversy and ire among lovers of “man’s best friend.”

Chile’s legislature is currently debating the bill whose proponents claim will remove the health hazard that are stray and lost dogs. “Euthanasia will only apply to sick dogs and those abused by people” claimed the head of the Senate health panel that's arguing the government-supported proposal. The bill also provides funds for provinces to carry out euthanasia against dogs and grants police wider authority to decide which dogs need to be exterminated.

Chilean animal rights organizations have vehemently denounced the proposal and made their voices heard:
Thirty protestors rallied in front of the La Moneda presidential palace and carried out mock dog euthanasia while covered in plastic bags and red paint.

For Proanimal Chile president Patricia Cocas, the proposal contradicts a measure passed earlier this month for the protection of animals…

“The Health Ministry wants to dump their duties on municipalities without the funds to carry out such a responsibility and pretend that they can go on with the mass extermination of animals” assured Cocas.
According to the government there are over three million dogs in Chile and most of them live in the streets.

Image- El Martutino
Online Sources- El Mercurio Online, EFE, CNN Chile

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