Allegations about unplanned adoption of dogs from various locations are untrue – National Food Agency
The dog hyperpopulation management program is as transparent as possible. Allegations about unplanned adoption of dogs from various locations are untrue, – this is stated in the information released by the National Food Agency.
According to them, the dog hyperpopulation management program is being carried out in two directions in accordance with the plan and includes veterinary manipulations for both homeless and owned dogs.
“Within the framework of the program, stray/flocked dogs are sterilized/castrated, identified and registered, vaccinated against rabies, and undergo diagnostic tests, while in the case of owned dogs, sterilization of nursing dogs, identification (using microchips) and registration in a unified electronic database are provided.
In the process of developing the hyperpopulation management program, at the special invitation of the National Food Agency, an expert recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) was involved, who has more than 20 years of professional experience in the field of animal welfare and stray animal population management. He is a member of the Governing Board of ICAM (International Companion Animal Management Coalition), an expert of FAO and TAIEX, and has been leading RSPCA international programs in Europe and the Caucasus region for many years. The program is implemented according to his recommendations, which ensures compliance with international best practices.
At the same time, in order to ensure maximum transparency of the process In order to ensure this, a relevant platform has been created – a Facebook page, on which information is constantly updated, including the publication of video footage, schedule, date and locations of the adoption of dogs and their return to their natural area,” the National Food Agency said in a statement.
According to the National Food Agency, the measures are implemented in coordination with animal lovers, collectors and local municipalities, and after the completion of veterinary manipulations, the animal is returned to its original area.
“The process of implementing the measures envisaged by the hyperpopulation program is fully transparent. The crews carry out the adoption of animals according to a pre-established and published schedule. Accordingly, the accusations spread by individual groups about the adoption of dogs from one location or another are completely unfounded,” said Tsira Napetvaridze, Deputy Head of the Dog Hyperpopulation Management Program.
According to the National Food Agency, it is important that the program is complex and, in parallel with veterinary measures, the construction of intermunicipal animal shelters is envisaged in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe-Javakheti regions.