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The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Negri's policy on strays needs a rethink
THE decision by Negri Sembilan state assembly, endorsed by all 36 assemblymen, sanctioning the culling of street dogs has sparked concern among animal rights advocates and concerned citizens. The voices of protest are louder than those in favour of the decision, and the state authorities ought to take heed of this. Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said his administration was left with no other option to address issues of disturbance and safety caused by the free-roaming canines. The decision, he said, had to be taken as the issue had been repeatedly raised and that gave an impression that his team was not doing anything to address it. Aminuddin promised that the stray dogs would only be euthanised if unclaimed from the pound after their capture. Animal welfare groups, however, want the authorities to consider other options to better manage the stray population. While acknowledging cases where aggressive animals pose risks to public safety, they said culling should not be an option. With no proper SOP in place, activists fear the state government's decision would give enforcement agencies free rein to cull all strays. They also claimed inconsistencies in Aminuddin's announcement as he had initially said only aggressive strays with a history of attacking the public would be put to sleep. Animal rights groups said the Negri Sembilan government should shelve the move while waiting for the outcome of proposals submitted to Housing and Local Government Ministry on managing the stray dog population. It should be noted that there are countries which have resorted to culling strays, particularly the animals that were known to have diseases such as rabies. On the other hand, there are also countries that completely prohibit the killing of street dogs and have adopted more humane measures such as spaying and neutering, sheltering them in pounds and promoting adoption. India, for example, has taken the fertility control route rather than culling, and its stray population has reduced. In North America, fertility control has had similar effectiveness over a 20-year period. These statistics, animal rights groups say, show that it is better to control than to kill. Animal welfare groups are asking that they be allowed to manage the issue via the trap-neuter-release (TNR) programme which they claim is the most effective method. They say it takes a minimum of five years for the programme to yield results and that non- governmental organisations should be given time to prove this. It is learned that the TNR programme in Seremban was only launched in 2023. The groups say they are also financially strained and depend heavily on public donations to cover expenses. For example Furrykids Safehaven, which houses some 2,000 strays in Rantau, claims it needs an average RM130,000 a month to run the shelter. More than half the expenses goes to buying 1,200 bags of kibbles − which cost some RM72,000 − for the dogs, followed by salaries for its 11 workers and veterinary bills, which come up to another RM50,000. Volunteers help catch strays for the TNR programme and feed them after they are released, at no cost to the state. To the people who have cared and continue to care for these voiceless animals, the decision by the authorities seems inhumane. We should perhaps take a page from other nations. The Netherlands, now virtually free of stray dogs, adopted a nationwide sterilisation programme in 1996. Homes were found for more than a million dogs without a single one being put to sleep. Another effective policy by the Dutch government was to impose heavy taxes on purchasing pets from stores, which eventually led people to adopt fur babies from shelters instead. Remember Kopi, the playful stray dog shot dead in Besut, Terengganu, during a culling operation? There are tens of thousands like Kopi all over Malaysia. A society is judged not by how it treats its strongest, but by how it cares for those who cannot fight back. The state government must return to the drawing board and come up with a policy that balances public health and safety with humane considerations. Surely, man's best friend deserves better.
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Miami-Dade sets thousands of stray cats free. Should feeding them be legal?
When a stray cat in a Kendall shopping center happens upon a pile of kibble near a Lowe's parking lot, they often have Virginia Dieppa to thank. At least for now. The 70-year-old retiree delivers for Uber Eats on the side to cover the cost of food for dozens of cats living on the edge of the Lowe's off of Southwest 137th Avenue. She uses a notepad to keep track of the ones she's named: Patches, Pearle, Sox, Midnight, Kee-Nee. The trunk of her car is crammed with water jugs, cat food and donated Pollo Tropical bowls for feeding dishes. While the cats consistently eat up her effort, not everybody is a fan. Dieppa and other volunteer feeders say they've been warned by police that they don't have permission to leave food in the private parking lot. Dieppa said a nearby daycare complained of cat waste. Last week, the Miami-Dade commissioner representing that area of Kendall, Raquel Regalado, filed legislation to ban the feeding of stray animals outside of businesses or in public parks but ultimately revoked it after receiving backlash. 'I was in shock,' Dieppa said of the pushback against feline feeding outside the Lowe's. 'Those cats have been fed for 18 years.' Dieppa's angst captures some of the complications surrounding a growing population of stray cats that is indirectly sanctioned by Miami-Dade's county government. Last year, the county's Animal Services Department released back onto the streets nearly 18,000 stray cats — each of them sterilized after being caught in a county-supplied trap or turned in by a member of the public. While Miami-Dade used to euthanize stray cats, the policy changed in 2012 amid pressure to dramatically boost the survival rate at the shelter. Miami-Dade then launched its 'TNR' program — Trap, Neuter and Return. The number of cats serviced by the program, which vaccinates cats in addition to sterilizing them, has doubled over the last decade. In 2016, about 8,700 cats were released, according to county figures. Last year, Miami-Dade released about 17,800 sterilized cats back onto the streets. Who feeds the cats once the county sets them free? In a statement, Animal Services said street cats are able to fend for themselves. 'Community cats are highly adaptable and naturally equipped to survive outdoors,' the statement said. 'With their strong territorial instincts, they learn to navigate their surroundings, locate food and water sources, and seek out safe shelter.' But the county's unofficial network of cat feeders say their efforts are key to providing a humane existence for the thousands of strays trying to survive without homes. 'One of the cats I'm feeding is missing an eye. One is missing a leg,' said Samuel Muvdi, 25, who tends to a group of cats living in a different Kendall shopping center. 'When I whistle, they all come running.' The question of what to do with homeless cats is controversial. PETA, the animal-rights group, said releasing sterilized feral cats back into the wild can be humane, provided they're fed and monitored for health issues and not at risk of getting hit by cars. Otherwise, the organization's website says, 'allowing feral cats to continue their daily struggle for survival in a hostile environment is not usually a humane option.' Bird deaths are a concern, too. The American Bird Conservancy's agenda includes 'keeping cats indoors,' and it blames 1 billion bird deaths a year on prowling felines. Last week, the friction spiked in Miami-Dade when Regalado introduced legislation to create a $100 fine for people feeding feral cats, dogs and peacocks on public or commercial property. The legislation cited 'unsightly conditions' from the feeding efforts, which the proposed ordinance said can 'attract vermin, clog storm drains, and contribute to pollution in the County's stormwater systems' — a reference to the role that pet waste plays after heavy rains. Regalado said the legislation was designed to 'de-criminalize' feeding operations by giving authorities the option of issuing a fine instead of charging people like Dieppa with trespassing for feeding in places where they're not authorized. But the backlash was sharp enough that Regalado killed the legislation just days after it became public. 'If people want to keep the status quo, the status quo it is,' she said. The proposed ordinance was withdrawn from the agenda of Tuesday's County Commission meeting. In the meantime, the retreat from the potential ban on feeding doesn't fix the friction over the cats Dieppa and other volunteers are feeding around the Kendall Lowe's. A corporate spokesperson for the hardware-store chain was not available for comment this week. A wall near the wooded area where the cats forage now has a yellow sign that says 'DO NOT FEED CATS.' Dieppa said the volunteer feeders have gotten conflicting information, so they're continuing to distribute food during hours when the parking lot isn't busy. They're concerned about the cats not having access to water as the temperature heats up if the volunteers can no longer set out their dishes. 'In the summer, we actually go twice a day to put out water,' said Alicia Carnevale, who also feeds those cats and at one point paid $400 to have several of them sterilized and treated by a vet. 'If we weren't doing this, they would probably die.'
ITV News
20-05-2025
- General
- ITV News
Animal welfare charities come together to tackle feral cat crisis in Cheshire as colony nears 250
Animal welfare charities are working together to control a large feral cat colony in the Cheshire, where as many as 250 cats are believed to be living around an industrial estate. The colony is mainly centred around the Brooks Lane and Midpoint industrial estates in Middlewich. Volunteers from Willowsway Cat Rescue in Northwich say the situation has become "incredibly challenging", with cats also coming in from nearby farmland and housing estates. The Northwich-based charity has been working in the area since October and has so far trapped, neutered, microchipped and returned 99 cats to the site. Liz Peach, founder and trustee of Willowsway Cat Rescue, said: "These cats have been breeding unchecked for years. "Most of them have never lived with people. They're wild, and wouldn't cope in a home environment." The charity says it has spent around £8,000 on veterinary care and equipment, and believes there are still around 100 to 150 cats left to help. The rescue effort is being supported by the RSPCA's Crewe, Nantwich & District Branch and its Altrincham branch, which have provided traps and funding for neutering. Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) schemes are widely seen as the most humane way to manage feral cat populations. The method prevents breeding, reduces the spread of disease, and improves the animals' quality of life. Two Willowsway volunteers, Julie Berry and Tracy Eastham, have been leading the trapping efforts — often working early mornings and late nights to monitor feeding spots and safely catch the cats. While most cats are returned to the colony, a small number of young kittens and sociable females have been rehomed through a network of 20 foster carers. Willowsway says local businesses, including Poole's Towing and Recovery and the nearby Starbucks, have stepped in to store equipment and cat food, while staff at Northwich Vets have neutered more than 80 cats, often at short notice. "This is a huge job for a small team of volunteers,' said Ms Peach. "We urgently need more foster carers, and donations of food, litter, and money to help us continue." Julie Brunt, Chair of the RSPCA's Crewe, Nantwich & District Branch, said: "This is too much for one group to manage alone, which is why we're supporting Willowsway. "Even though they're feral, these cats still deserve care. Neutering them is the best way to protect their health and stop the colony from growing." Cats can get pregnant as early as four months old, and unneutered females can have multiple litters every year. The charities say early neutering is essential, especially as more people struggle with the cost of living. They are encouraging cat owners to register with a vet, explore neutering vouchers, and consider pet insurance to help cover unexpected bills.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Who is Nitisha Kaul, Indian-origin professor to lose OCI status for ‘anti-India' activity?
Indian-origin professor Nitasha Kaul, revealed on May 18, that the government of India had cancelled her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status, citing 'anti-India' activities. In a series of posts on X, she wrote, 'IMPORTANT NOTE - I received a cancellation of my #OCI (Overseas Citizenship of #India) today after arriving home. A bad faith, vindictive, cruel example of #TNR (transnational repression) punishing me for scholarly work on anti-minority & anti-democratic policies of #Modi rule.' Also Read: Why was UK writer Nitasha Kaul denied entry to India? MEA clarifies She added, 'Modi BJP govt humiliated themselves & insulted non-BJP Karnataka state govt that invited me last year by ill-treating me & in spite of my 20,000 word response to their ridiculous inanity about 'anti-India', they have chosen to do this by a rigged process.' The UK-based academician was referring to an incident in February last year, when she was denied entry into India after being invited for an event by the Karnataka state government. She accused the Centre of denying her entry due to her anti-RSS stance. Also Read: 'Calculated harassment': Ashoka University faculty on Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad's arrest over Op Sindoor remarks In a post on X, Kaul said regarding her OCI status, 'Will overseas PR delegations of GOI say why 'mother of #democracy' denies me access to my mother? This is thin-skinned, petty insecurity with no respect for well-intentioned dissent that arrests/imprisons citizens in India & bars access to family for overseas citizens of #India.' The notice sent by the government of India stated that Kaul had repeatedly attacked India's sovereignty in international forums and on social media. Kaul, who is a Kashmiri Pandit, had testified against the Indian government in 2019 at the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, over 'human rights violations' in Jammu and Kashmir. Nitasha Kaul is a professor of politics, international relations, and critical interdisciplinary studies at the University of Westminster in London. Kaul has a BA Honours in economics from SRCC, Delhi University, and a masters in Economics with a specialisation in Public Policy, and a Joint PhD in Economics and Philosophy from the University of Hull, UK (2003). Also Read: Who is Renu Bhatia, woman behind the action against Ashoka University professor? From 2002 to 2007, she worked as an assistant professor of economics at the Bristol Business School. In 2010, she worked as an associate professor in creative writing at the Royal Thimphu College in Bhutan. Nitisha Kaul is also a novelist, writer, and a poet. Her first book was a scholarly monograph on economics and philosophy titled 'Imagining Economics Otherwise: encounters with identity/difference' (Routledge, 2007). Nitasha Kaul also co-edited 'Can you Hear Kashmiri Women Speak? Narratives of Resistance and Resilience' (Women Unlimited, 2020). She has repeatedly spoken out against Prime Minister Modi and the BJP-led government on her social media.
News18
19-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
UK-Based Indian-Origin Professor Loses OCI Over 'Anti-India Acts' After 2024 Bengaluru Deportation
Last Updated: Nitasha Kaul, the UK-based professor, alleged that the she was being subjected to 'transnational repression' for her work on 'anti-democratic policies' of the Government of India. An Indian-origin professor in the UK, who was deported from the Bengaluru airport last year shortly after landing, said that the Government of India has cancelled her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status for being involved in 'anti-India activities". Nitasha Kaul, the Kashmiri Pandit academician, alleged on Sunday that she was being subjected to 'transnational repression" and she was getting punished for her work on 'anti-democratic policies" of the government. Sharing the notice she received from the government on X, she said, 'IMPORTANT NOTE – I received a cancellation of my #OCI (Overseas Citizenship of #India) today after arriving home. A bad faith, vindictive, cruel example of #TNR (transnational repression) punishing me for scholarly work on anti-minority & anti-democratic policies of #Modi rule." IMPORTANT NOTE – I received a cancellation of my #OCI (Overseas Citizenship of #India) *today* after arriving home. A bad faith, vindictive, cruel example of #TNR (transnational repression) punishing me for scholarly work on anti-minority & anti-democratic policies of #Modi rule. — Professor Nitasha Kaul, PhD (@NitashaKaul) May 18, 2025 The notice shared by the woman said that it was brought to the GoI's notice that she had been 'indulging in anti-India activities, motivated by malice and complete disregard for facts or history". 'Through your numerous inimical writings, speeches and journalistic activities at various international forums and on social media platforms, you regularly target India and its institutions on the matters of India's sovereignty," it read. The Indian-origin woman is a professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster, London, in the United Kingdom. She had graduated from Delhi University's Shri Ram College of Commerce and later pursued a Master's and a PhD from Hull University in the UK. In a linked post on X, she talked about her last year's deportation from the Bengaluru airport and dubbed it an 'insult" to the Congress government in the state that had sent out an invitation to speak at a convention. 'Modi BJP govt humiliated themselves & insulted non-BJP Karnataka state govt that invited me last year by ill-treating me & in spite of my 20,000 word response to their ridiculous inanity about 'anti-India', they have chosen to do this by a rigged process," she wrote. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 19, 2025, 16:01 IST
