On September 2nd, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh, after the government began relocating stray dogs to a waste disposal site/landfill.
The activists say that the dogs will starve to death there and that up to 30,000 dogs could be affected if this policy continues. It is already illegal to kill or relocate street dogs in Dhaka.
Ideally, stray dogs should all be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and placed in permanent, loving homes.
When that is not possible, stray dogs should be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and returned to where they live.
Stray dogs should never be killed for being homeless.
Please support the local citizens in demanding that the street dogs be spayed or neutered and given rabies vaccinations instead of being relocated.
Write to the newly elected mayor, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, at MayorSheikhTaposh@dscc.gov.bd.
Here’s some sample text; feel free to modify:
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Dear Mayor Taposh,
As someone who cares about animals, I was heartened to read of how many people in Dhaka recently took to the streets to demand the enforcement of humane laws that say the street dogs should not be killed and they should not be relocated to areas where they will be unsafe or starve to death. Ideally all dogs would have good homes, but when that is impossible, as many street dogs as possible should be spayed or neutered, given rabies vaccinations, and allowed to stay where they are living, rather than being relocated. I realize spay/neuter and vaccination costs money, but your citizens demand it, and I totally support their compassionate choice.
Some organizations are working on nonsurgical sterilization of animals, which should make it easier and cheaper to spay and neuter street dogs, but unfortunately that is not available yet. It is not too late to rethink the decision to relocate the street dogs. Please instruct your government employees to discontinue any relocation of these dogs. Thank you.
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THANK YOU for taking action to help these dogs!
Your help is deeply appreciated … and I really can't thank you enough.
Yours truly,
Maria Papazian
Volunteer
600 Million Dogs
