BD300,000 allocated to set up shelter for strays

A budget of BD300,000 has been allocated for the establishment of a shelter for stray dogs in the country, the Ministry of Works, Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning has confirmed. A ministry representative said that the 9,000 sqm shelters will be set up in a remote area away from the residences. The ministry has also been successfully implementing its Catch, Neuter and Release (CNR) Programme. The representative said that the ministry has been following the best international practices in tackling the stray issue.

“The ministry has also sought the help from animal welfare organizations for the project,” the representative said. A private veterinary clinic was appointed to carry out the Catch, Neuter, and Release (CNR) programme. According to the latest statistics, the number of dogs caught since the beginning of the campaign until February was 1,099.

The maximum number of stray dogs were caught from the Capital Governorate (424), followed by the Northern Governorate (315), Southern Governorate (214) and the Muharraq Governorate (198). The move has been welcomed by the animal rights activists, who have been campaigning for a solution to end the plight of stray dogs. Various calls were made in the past by the activists to set up a government-sponsored Catch Neuter and Release (CNR) programme and to establish a shelter.