Cat massacre in Algeria

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

- ALGIERS, JANUARY 24

- Despite the fact that cats are the only pure animals for Islam allowed even in mosques, the number of cats captured in the streets of Algiers in 2007 and then killed remains very high: some 16,000. Thirteen teams were sent by Hurbal, the public hygiene body, with the aim to capture the thousands of cats that crowd the capital. "It is impossible to keep the cats in captivity long," explains Saidi Bendjaballa, a veterinarian of Hurbal in Algiers' eastern district, El Harrach. "They do not eat anymore, they do not resist and after 72 they are put down," Bendjaballa specifies, pointing out "that the animals do not suffer from the treatment". "We cannot do otherwise. No one comes to adopt a cat," she explains. Dogs are more fortunate, although they are much less spread in Algiers: "We have had at least a dozen cases of adoptions of dogs". Fortunately, despite the fact that the number fell compared to last year, there are people who oppose the capturing and killing of cats with true "aggression against the employees of Hurbal often forced to be accompanied by police".

wow... the dogs sure are lucky

http://www.ansamed.info/en/news/ME03.YAM10160.html

[Mags 112]

Poor kitties. Perhaps the peoples of that area should learn from the capture, spay/neuter and release program that many other Mediterranean countries now do.

[Ban Hammer 13,342]

don't tell mags!

eta: well ####### she already found it.

Edited January 26, 2008 by charlesandnessa

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Poor kitties. Perhaps the peoples of that area should learn from the capture, spay/neuter and release program that many other Mediterranean countries now do.

Yeah, and from what I've seen, its actually made a difference.

If they are putting them down humanely, then I'm all for this type of critter control. can you imagine the cost of keeping them alive and housed until adapted? Its immpossible. I agree with the vet, Saidi Bendjaballa, that this is the only way to do it. I mean it could be much worse. They could simply hunt the cats in the city streets, with fully-automatic weapons. Kitty carnage. It's the perfect makings for an episode of Southpark.

Edited January 26, 2008 by Jason-Sasha

[Meriem_DZ 37]

The street cat population is my husband's city is ridiculous. It is a terrible problem. Most of the people in Algeria are poor, there is no money to spend on pets and especially spay and neuter. So it should be left up to the government and the government does not care much for it's own people much less the poor pet population. The animals dont stand a chance.

A couple of years ago my husband and his family adopted a male street cat and named him Bouche Bouche. He came and went as he pleased. He began having seizures and after repeated trips to the vet, he passed away. They adopted another street cat, Bouche Bouche II, He did not show up at home one day and they went looking for him and he was hit by a car. The second time I went to Algeria, they told me they would never have another cat. It was to hard to love them and lose them. One day we were in the Kitchen and I walked into the hallway. Someone had left the door slightly open and there sat a half grown kitten. It was a sign. The kitten had chosen them so guess what, he stayed. Bouche bouche III. My MIL feeds the stray cats out her 2nd story kitchen window. The cats will sit under the window and meow for her to throw something down. She would always have little sardine type fish for them.

Meriem

[mawilson 2,133]

It's a catastrophe!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

It's a catastrophe!

LOL