Authorities in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa have been killing dogs in an effort to curb an estimated population of 200,000 strays. On Friday, March 8, authorities announced that they had killed 9,942 stray dogs by feeding them poisoned meat. Local authorities claim that officials are leaving dog carcasses on the street uncollected, causing a terrible odor and threatening human and environmental health.
Poisoning dogs condemns them to a slow and painful death that no animal deserves. Authorities are disturbing residents and endangering their health by killing dogs this way and leaving them on the streets. The current practice also endangers local birds and other animals that might eat the poisoned dog carcasses. Please urge Addis Ababa authorities to end their current dog culling practices and implement a humane animal control program that limits harm to dogs, people and the environment.
To: Addis Ababa Authorities
We, the undersigned, are writing to express our concern with your current methods of controlling the stray dog population in Addis Ababa. We understand that you recently killed 9,942 stray dogs by feeding them poisoned meat. Local authorities claim that officials are leaving dog carcasses on the street uncollected, causing a terrible odor and threatening human and environmental health.
Poisoning dogs condemns them to a slow and painful death that no animal deserves. We believe that authorities are disturbing residents and endangering their health by killing dogs this way and leaving them on the streets. The current practice also endangers local birds and other animals that might eat the poisoned dog carcasses. We respectfully urge you to end your current method of dog culling and implement a humane animal control program that limits harm to dogs, people and the environment.
