Urge Egypt to Stop Inhumane Dog Cull!
Authorities in Giza city plan to use gunshot and poison—inhumane and violent methods of killing—to address the overpopulation of stray dogs in the city. Please join People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia-Pacific in urging them to take immediate steps to stop this cruel and dangerous plan.
Gunshots rarely provide instant death. The animals' inevitable wriggling and movement, especially in conjunction with a shooter's possibly poor shot, would cause the animals to be injured—rather than killed—and suffer tremendously before dying. For example, dogs who turn their heads at the last minute could be shot in the nose, mouth, or eye.
Poisoning is among the cruelest methods of killing. Strychnine poison causes severe pain and discomfort before death. Dogs who are poisoned will suffer increased reflex excitability in the spinal cord that results in a loss of normal motor cell function—all their muscles will contract simultaneously. Convulsions and hyper-reactivity to stimuli are characteristic of strychnine poisoning, and the dogs will be conscious and will suffer intense pain for several hours before death. Furthermore, strychnine also kills countless nontarget species—including insects, birds, fish, and mammals other than dogs—if they unintentionally ingest the poison itself or if they are exposed to the carcasses of dead dogs.
Animal population experts agree that laws mandating that all owned animals be sterilized to prevent unwanted births—coupled with full-service animal-sheltering programs—are the most effective ways to reduce stray animal populations. Please join PETA Asia-Pacific in urging Dr. Hamed Abd El-Tawab Samaha, chair of Egypt's General Organisation for Veterinary Services, to immediately stop plans to shoot and poison animals and instead work with PETA Asia-Pacific on developing a professional program for addressing the stray dog and cat problem in the city.
Personalized letters always work best. Feel free to use the following text, but your message will carry more weight if you write your own customized message and subject line.
You can also send written correspondence to:
Dr. Hamed Abd El-Tawab Samaha
Chair, General Organisation for Veterinary Services
Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation
1st Nadi El Seid Street
Dokki, Giza 12618
Cairo
