Vet Clinic #1 is killing stray and unattended dogs in Tbilisi Georgia

We are the animals rights group of Georgia. We write this appeal with the hope of improving the welfare and protection of  animals that will add to the overall development of our country. Especially disturbing is the tragic fate of street animals in Georgia, and it needs immediate attention from both the state and the Georgian public. Unfortunately, Government and public are not ready yet to find humane and viable solution to this problem.

In spring of 2007 Tbilisi city administration, through country wide Rustavi 2 TV channel, announced the plan to control the population of stray dogs in Tbilisi city. Description of planned method and approach to the problem left us extremely appalled and dismayed with these preparations.

First, there was no public announcement regarding the project. Itself description of the project was available neither for wider public nor for animal rights groups. We feared that lack of transparency could lead to disastrous results and instead of regulating stray dog  population in our city, we would face cruel, unprofessional and cynic dog eradication exercise.

On 1 May 2007 Tbilisi Mayor announced that Vet clinic #1 became operational to deal with the identification/medical check and sterilization of stray dogs. He also reckoned that Vet clinic will release dogs back to city habitat after these procedures. He also specified that euthanasia is meant only for critically ill animals.

Our members accompanied by few foreign representatives approached mentioned clinic for the monitoring and assessment of their activities. Unfortunately none of the Mayor's statements proved any close to the reality. In fact, catch-and-kill practice is not abandoned and same barbarian tools are used by specially formed motorized crews in the relevant city administration structures. In addition any attempt to record this cruelty is prevented by police patrol. Most appalling and deplorable is that these brutal and inhumane actions towards stray animals are committed by government officials and affiliate commercial structures. This is yet another fact of continuation of barbaric methods of street animals' treatment, inherited from soviet times, when street animals were equalized with garbage.

On January 19th  of 2009, one and a half year after the notorious announcement by the Mayor on launching VET clinic #1, Georgian newspaper Asaval-Dasavali published the article which is calling Tbilisi's population for cooperation in eradication of stray animals in Tbilisi. Article pictures Vet clinic #1's dog catcher near the clinic's van encouraging citizens  to call their hotline with the purpose of stray and unattended dogs' "evacuation". According to the article  city declares 2 months (since February the 1st till April 1st)  of Anti Stray Operation in Tbilisi. Article is full of misinformation with the purpose of manipulation of population's feelings via inducing fear to strays.

Fear is needed to help the local government of Tbilisi to commit acts of atrocities right in front of children and resort to actions which have nothing to do with either humanity or European and Christian values.

This situation is exacerbated by total absence of sterilization programs and activities. Georgian veterinarian society is in devastation in these days. There is no possibility to receive modern veterinarian education. Lack of VETs' skills especially refers to outdated surgery methods, long recovery periods (for now it often takes more than one week), absence of knowledge on medical support etc.

We want to call all the people of the world to join us in denouncing this horrible action and demand from Georgian authorities to finally wake up to humanity and look in the direction of integration with civilized world.

Instead of indiscriminate killing, Government shall start:
1.    Household pet registration in Georgia,
2.    Undertake immediate actions to stop VET clinic #1 activities, responsible for stray animals' catch-and-kill activities and with released resources establish the fund for animal control on the basis of which it can build municipal shelters for lost and stray dogs.
3.    Immediately join and fulfill international and European conventions on animal protection.
4.    Create and start implementation of legislation on animal welfare.
5.    Cooperate with Animal Rights organizations for the implementation of ABC program, aimed at establishing modern animal birth control mechanisms.

6.    Establish permanently functioning coordination mechanisms with Georgian NGOs dealing with animal welfare issues.

We are looking forward for your response to our appeal. Please send your support messages to the following e-mail address: arc@animalrights.ge