Author Archive for Abid Omar

Rabies threat in the NWFP

Published
by
Abid Omar
on June 24, 2007
in News
. 0 Comments

Editorial in DAWN:

ONE of the most cruel and barbaric methods still being used to deal with the threat of rabies is the killing of stray dogs. This has never solved the problem. As a report on Saturday from Peshawar revealed, the issue has more to do with the unavailability of anti-rabies vaccines in hospitals, which are provided to them by the National Institute of Health to administer to patients free of cost. About 27,000 persons, including children, were bitten by stray dogs in the province last year, but it is difficult to ascertain the number of deaths from rabies. Those who are bitten by stray dogs say that they cannot afford to buy the Rs4,000 vaccine from the market while the government hospitals do not have it.

More here.

Stray dogs in Pakistan need your help

Published
by
Abid Omar
on July 13, 2005
in Animal Welfare
. 0 Comments

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The News letter to the editor - I

Published
by
Abid Omar
on July 13, 2005
in Animal Welfare
. 0 Comments

The Pakistan Animal Welfare Society has informed us that “thousands of stray dogs who have long roamed the streets of Karachi may soon be the target of an extensive and cruel campaign to eliminate them.” It is said that the authorities will spread capsules of strychnine in the streets.

We must protest against this kind of cruel action. Strychnine is a very violent poison which causes a slow death. The populations of stray dogs and rabies must be controlled, but certainly not by a slaughter.We urge the authorities concerned to reconsider their plan and discuss it with the Pakistani animal welfare associations in order to find ways to resolve the problem of rabies without cruelty.

Rosa Mertens
Belgium

Police shoot leopard dead - Dawn report

Published
by
Abid Omar
on July 12, 2005
in News
. 0 Comments

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PESHAWAR, July 11: Police commandos on Monday shot dead a leopard which reportedly killed six women in northwestern Pakistan, officials said. They lured the leopard into a forested area with a caged goat and then sprayed the cat with bullets when it fell for the trap, said Feroz Shah, a senior police officer in Abbottabad.

“Police commandos fired 15 bullets to kill the leopard,” Shah told AFP.

The big cat was killed about 200 yards (metres) from the spot where it was thought to have mauled a woman on Friday, he said.

“We are 100 per cent sure it is the same leopard,” Shah said, without specifying how.

The leopard was blamed for fatal attacks on six women who had gone to collect firewood from the mountainous region during the last two weeks.

Shah said the authorities dispatched the commando team over the weekend to hunt down the animal and also warned people to stay away from the forest.

Source: Dawn Newspaper July 12, 2005
http://dawn.com/2005/07/12/nat18.htm

Dawn letter to the editor - II

Published
by
Abid Omar
on July 2, 2005
in Animal Welfare
. 0 Comments

THIS refers to the Karachi city government’s plan to eliminate pye-dogs by laying out poison-filled sweetmeats and meat in every town and union council. This not only poses a threat to pet dogs and cats but also to garbage pickers and beggars. Moreover, it is a cruel way to get rid of pye-dogs. Continue reading ‘Dawn letter to the editor - II’