The head of the All-Ukrainian Service for Wild, Exotic and Domestic Animals Rescue “Feldman Ecopark Good Home” Iryna Podvoiska took part in the conference “Study of experience in implementation of animal treatment programmes in Ukrainian cities and formation of single state policy in this question,” which took place in Zaporizhzhia. During her speech, she shared the experience of implementation of complex programmes in the territory of Kharkiv oblast, which not only help to reduce the number of stray animals using only humane methods, but also help in all areas of communication with animals.
“The brutal methods of irrevocable capture of animals still used in many cities are not only inhumane, but also inefficient and cause negative consequences. Oleksandr Feldman Foundation and Feldman Ecopark cooperate with volunteers for a long time and develop their own projects aimed at the humane treatment of animals,” Iryna Podvoiska noted. “We have a clear view of how to implement proper and effective methods of control of the number of stray animals.”
These projects are based on the CSVR method (capture, sterilization, vaccination, return to natural habitat). They also stipulate the wide informational and educational activity (propaganda of responsible treatment of animals among population); the development of volunteer movement (animals find new homes exactly thanks to the volunteers); the introduction of special conditions for servicing of domestic animals in the veterinary clinics (which may significantly reduce the number of new stray animals in the streets); the opening of social veterinary clinics with the centres for animals temporary holding; the construction of animal shelters. According to Iryna Podvoiska, the similar programmes are already implemented in several towns of Kharkiv oblast, and it is planned to expand them to the other towns of the region and the whole country.
“In order to improve the situation with stray animals in our country, we need the changes at the legislative level. We prepare the amendments to the nature conservation legislation, in particular the Law On the Protection of Animals from Cruelty,” Iryna Podvoiska added.
The conference “Study of experience in implementation of animal treatment programmes in Ukrainian cities and formation of single state policy in this question” took place on November 11 on the initiative of the members of Zaporizhzhia City Council. The representatives of animal protection NGOs and municipal enterprises of the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Lviv, Cherkassy and Sloviansk took part in it.
It should be reminded that Feldman Ecopark Good Home was opened in 2010. During six years of the project, over 15,000 dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets found home with its help. In 2013, it became an all-Ukrainian service helping not only domestic animals, but also wild and exotic ones: it deals with the evacuation, provision of veterinary assistance and rehabilitation.
