Across the world on October 4th - World Animal Day, many Churches, Temples and Mosques will be holding services which celebrate God’s creation. We invite all religious groups here in the Seychelles to join them. Some in their regular services include an element of prayer for the suffering of creation but on this day services usually focus on four themes:-
1. Repentance for our abuse of and cruelty to animals.
2. Thanksgiving for animal companionship.
3. Celebration of God’s creatures.
4. Compassion for individual animals.
It is not always appreciated that the first SPCA, the first national animal welfare society in the word – came into existence as the result of Christian vision. This society was founded by the Rev Arthur Broome, in June 1824. The first minute book records the declaration that “the proceedings of this Society are entirely based on the Christian Faith and on Christian Principles.” Broome, together with other visionaries such as William Wilberforce, the man who spent nearly 50 years of his life fighting to stop the disgrace of slavery, directly changed the moral conscience of a nation and consequently and indirectly the consciences of other nations – by the establishment of sister SPCAs around the world.
Our Seychelles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will become official members of this marvellous network of dedicated people, during the month of October this year.
It is important to remember that whilst the first SPCA was founded upon Christian principles, other religious groups outside of Christianity also acknowledge that acts of cruelty as being a sin, or of an evil force. I shall mention some here but there are others.
In the Qur’an, there is an explicit acknowledgment that animals form communities like us and that they too, praise their Creator. “There is not an animal on earth, nor a bird that flies on its wings, but they are communities like you..”(6:38). The Qur’an also states that “Kindness to any living creature will be rewarded.”
In Indian traditions, principally Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, there is the central idea of AHIMSA – translated by Gandhi as “nonviolence” or “non-injury”. Although this idea is variously understood, its extension to nonhuman life forms has never been in doubt. This has given rise to traditions of vegetarianism and abstinence from animal protein. In Buddhism the principle of no killing, or harmlessness, constitutes the first precept. In the Hindu tradition, it has been claimed that “almost all the Hindu scriptures place strong emphasis on the notion that God’s grace can be received by not killing his creatures or harming his creation..” This is also found in Islam.
It is my hope at some point in the future to write articles about the various religious groups and examine their treatment of animals but this will suffice for now.
We at the SSPCA ask all peoples of the Seychelles to join with us and celebrate God’s other creatures in both their worship during this week but also in their actions throughout their lives. SSPCA 08.
The SSPCA Transport Vehicle has now died this very weekend . We are in urgent need of financial help to buy another vehicle. Import duties here are very high and the price of a vehicle is around double what you would expect to pay in Europe or South Africa. Then of course is the cost of getting a vehicle here.
In order to continue with our committment to the people of the Seychelles we are now hiring a vehicle but each day the money that is being used to rent a vehicle is coming out of our drug and education funds. The quicker we can purchase a vehicle the less depleted our funds will be.
If you can help us in anyway please contact us or if you wish to remain anonymous please see the banking details on our site. Many , many thanks - SSPCA staff.
Our Centre for Animal Welfare (CAWS) is a whole complex aimed at improving the condition for animals in the Seychelles, together with our aim to educate the public and also - to be self-sustainable.
The CAWS centre is a Refuge for Abandoned and Confiscated Animals.
A First Step in Stopping Poisoning.
A Fully Equipped Veterinary Clinic.
A 24hr Animal Hospital
An Education Centre for Schools, Training and Conferences.
It will provide society with private Boarding Kennels for Self-Sustainability of the CAWS project
and a Grooming Parlour which meets both a need and helps our self-sustainability.
Last Friday the 12th September, many myths were broken here in the Seychelles.
The first ever prosecution for the ill-treatment of animals came before the court.
We cannot discuss the case as it continues its way through the judicial system but we can talk about some of the myths surrounding the issue.
1st Broken Myth:- There are no laws in the Seychelles to protect animals – WRONG! There are and have been since 1902.They cover all animals in the Seychelles, including Tortoises. There are laws pertaining to NEGLECT in providing daily food and water; laws for neglecting to provide animals with veterinary care for injuries but also for diseases like mange, that reddening of the skin and hair loss which causes the animal great distress - in fact the law states ‘in any neglectful manner which causes suffering to any animal’ and would therefore cover inadequate or inappropriate housing. There are also laws to cover any CRUELTY which could be beating or wounding, ill-treatment, overriding overloading, and abuse of any form or torture. There are laws which allow for custodial sentences of up to 7 years or fines.Whilst these laws are out of date they are adequate to deal with offenders who break the laws briefly outlined above. All involved with this case clearly saw how outdated the existing laws are, especially the penalties and the government have given the approval for a complete re-write of the laws pertaining to animals, which the SSPCA and Attorney General’s Office are addressing.
2nd Broken Myth:- The Police won’t prosecute - WRONG! This case shows the willingness of the Police to prosecute cases of neglect or cruelty to animals.They may not have done so in the past, but that is the past.Now the SSPCA have an excellent working relationship with the police and have been designated 2 Police officers – one from the uniformed branch and one from the C.I.D. These Police Officers liaise with the SSPCA’s Animal Welfare Officers and the local police who will accompany our A.W.O’s when members of the public refuse to co-operate with them. These designated police officers have circulated to all Police Stations in the Seychelles, copies of the relevant laws with a notification that breaking these laws is a prosecutable offence.It must be acknowledged with thanks that it was the Police who confiscated the animal in the case which came before the courts on the 12th September;It was the Police who collated witness statements and it was the Police who sent the case to the Attorney General for prosecution. We should all be very proud of our Police force this day.
3rd Broken Myth:- The Attorney General’s office will not prosecute –WRONG!
The prosecution of the case mentioned above is testimony to that.
4th Broken Myth:-
Claiming you have friends in high-places puts you above the law. WRONG!This case is clear evidence that this excuse, for that is all it is, means nothing to the Police or Prosecution service.If you break the law – you can be prosecuted – despite your knowing ‘important people’. The authorities have shown their determination to prosecute, despite such claims which apparently are heard frequently by those in this field.
5th Broken Myth:- That the veterinary services are not interested in cases of ill-treatment. WRONG! The Veterinary services were actively involved in this case from the beginning and have shown themselves to be in support of prosecution should the case warrant such action.
There are other aspects which cannot be written of at this time as the case is
The SSPCA (Seychelles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has made it’s first important steps, together with some of it’s first supporters and sponsors from the private and public sector, in launching it’s fundraising drive towards the building and opening up of a welfare centre for animals on land allocated for this project in Providence.
The Centre for Animal Welfare Seychelles (CAWS) will set out to influence the behaviour of people towards animals in a positive way. It will be dedicated to teaching kindness and compassion towards all living creatures and provide the opportunity for explaining and demonstrating responsible pet ownership. The centre will be a venue for workshops, seminars and exhibitions on the important and positive role which animals play in our society.
On the practical side, the centre aims to provide a wide range of facilities for the health and welfare of animals, especially pets.
SSPCA Vice Chairman Anne Rose-Innes points out that there is a huge lack of facilities for this in Seychelles. The Government veterinary service was set up primarily for farm animals. The demand for care and treatment of domestic pets is placing a burden on this service, which it cannot cope with.
Mrs Rose- Innes points out that nowadays owners want prompt and professional service for their pets. Whatever the cost, many look for the best diagnostic equipment, medication and facilities for treatment and recovery of their animals. To be truly effective, the service must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, she believes.
There are also various needs that are not yet provided for in Seychelles such as a boarding kennel or cattery for pet owners who need to leave their pets while on holiday and a grooming parlour and dipping service for dogs. Injured animals also need to be cared for and this requires animal hospital, clinics, X-ray facilities, dispensary and laboratory.
The new centre will provide 60 kennels for strays awaiting adoption, as well as facilities for boarding of animals.
If you would like to make a pledge towards a kennel or send your important contribution towards the building of the ‘CAWS’ centre you can contact our Fundraising Manager Miss Ruth Barbé on +248 745011, or our Vice Chairman, Mrs. Anne Rose-Innes on +248 716911 (SSPCA’s actual Chairman is Mr. Patrick Pillay). Or E-mail us at sspca@intelvision.net. Our local website will soon be up and running at www.thesspca.org
Donations by cheque can be made to “SSPCA”. The SSPCA Fundraising Bank Details are: Nouvobanq,Victoria, Seychelles. Rupee Account: 01-2-02-033207-00-0 Foreign Exchange Account: 21-0-02-033207-00-0
SSPCA Registered Charity No. A430713
Chief Veterinary Officers from across the world are backing the move towards a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare which is supported by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and is being recognised by a growing number of government authorities and international organisations.
Members of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) gave overwhelming backing to the initiative at their annual meeting in Paris on Friday 25 May.
Members of the OIE meeting voted in favour of the resolution to achieve worldwide acceptance of animal welfare as an important issue and called on governments to support the goal. The resolution states that the OIE decided:
- To support, in principle, the development of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare which calls on countries to acknowledge the importance of animal welfare and, at the same time, recognises the OIE as the established international animal welfare standard setting body
- To encourage the efforts of governments seeking to support this goal
- To encourage the efforts of globally recognised animal welfare organisations seeking to achieve this goal
Director General of WSPA, Peter Davies, said:
”WSPA is delighted that the OIE is backing the Universal Declaration for Animal Welfare: this is a crucial moment in its realisation and such an important declaration of support and commitment from government veterinarians across the world.”
“We will be working with them to encourage governments to improve protection for animal health and welfare. This move gives added impetus and urgency to our aim to end animal cruelty. A Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare would have a real, long-term impact on the welfare of billions of animals worldwide.”
The WSPA-supported initiative for a Universal Declaration for Animal Welfare working with HSI, RSPCA, CIWF, IFAW and the ASPCA to be adopted by the UN is currently gaining momentum around the world:
·A global petition is close to achieving 500,000 signatures from members of the public all over the world
·Government authorities in Kenya, India, the Philippines, Costa Rica and the CzechRepublic are officially backing the Declaration
To find out more about the Universal Declaration for Animal Welfare visit the Animals Matter website http://www.animalsmatter.org/
