Sobre animais abandonados e pessoas que lidam com eles: O papel dos clínicos veterinários

Abstract

The stray pet overpopulation, where thousands upon thousands of puppies and kittens are born because of the uncontrolled breeding of abandoned companion animals, has become a serious crisis in almost all great urban centers around the world; not rarely millions of these animals are euthanized because there are not enough homes for them. To change this picture will be a key challenge in the XXI century and this will require effective measures performed by public and private politics. Abandoned and stray companion animals that survive in the streets and alleys of cities and suburbs pose a health threat to humans and other animals. The public health epidemic of stray pets has drawn an enormous amount of dangerous risks as vectors of diseases known as zoonoses and of environment pollution. Regardless of which opinion one has about stray pets, there is a shared, serious concern about the current paradox of: a) continuous abandon and overpopulation, and b) covenant of non-declared owners; circumstances we have named as the vicious circle “ABANDON – NON-DECLARED OWNERSHIP – CRUELTY”. The veterinarian role is posed and discussed here, as a key one towards new positions and attitudes for solving the stray pets crisis, a true dilemma we should say. Proven health and control measurements, such as trap-neuter programs and new methods for animal identification/registry, among others, are already available. Whether a perfect formula for our (veterinarian) role on this issue is possible, we are not aware, but definitely we ought to jointly struggle on the way to a more professional and caring look over the recognition of such animal suffering. The invitation is made; the claim is indeed legitimate and it requires a paradigm shift in the thinking of both veterinarians and the owners (or those who abandon their pets). The neglected pets, which are the only completely not guilty victims of the crisis, will deeply appreciate our assist! But let’s not ever forget our professional side: to assist as in specialized care, not as in an unethical pity!