Yelp for Help’s last event in November was a huge success in every way. It was a fun, educational day out for the whole family. The turnout was very good, as was the entertainment, from the stilt-walkers, to the storytelling, and the train ride for the kids. The market stalls run by the participating NGOs added another interesting activity for visitors who bought new and second-hand items – books, clothes, bric-a-brac, etc, and in turn, the organisations raised their own funds on the day too. Sanctuaries and conservation organisations forming part of the market also used this event as a platform to disseminate information about their organisation’s objectives, campaigns as well as to recruit volunteers and new members. Participating organisations included: Animal Rights Group, Cats on Campus, Hakuna Matata, Happy Paws Charity Organisation, Island Sanctuary, National Cat Society, Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary, Stray Animal Support Group, Share Malta, SPCA (Gozo), BICREF and Birdlife Malta.

The Community Chest Fund presented Yelp For Help with funds left over from L-Istrina that were specifically allocated towards the neutering of stray cats and dogs by the committee. Yelp For Help will invest this donation in its own neutering campaign for 2007 which is being launched this week.

Come late afternoon, daylight gave way to great entertainment by local artists giving Buskett a whole different feel for the rest of the evening.

The event raised Lm3,400. These funds will be invested in a neutering campaign which was launched by Yelp For Help in December 2004. This campaign aims to reduce the populations of stray cats and dogs in Malta and Gozo by working together with local veterinary surgeons, colony carers and sanctuaries. Neutering operations costs are very high, and sponsorship of these operations by Yelp for Help includes the veterinary surgeon’s charge and anaesthetic, as well as medication and VAT charges. Operation costs vary according to the animal’s weight/size and sex. Neutering operations performed on female cats and dogs are more complicated and expensive due to such gender’s biological make-up. For the same reason, convalescence for a female lasts longer.

Through past events, Yelp for Help raised approximately Lm5,000 which was invested in the neutering of 360 stray cats and 87 stray dogs. This year, Yelp For Help’s neutering campaign will be managed by Happy Paws Charity Organisation, Stray Animal Support Group and The Island Sanctuary. Carers and dog sanctuaries needing vouchers for the neutering of homeless/stray dogs are to contact Claire Gafa at Island Sanctuary on 2165-9895. Carers and cat sanctuaries needing vouchers to neuter homeless/stray cats can contact Margaret Glover from Happy Paws Charity Organisation on 9987-4972 or Janine Vella from Stray Animal Support Group on 7957-5765.

FuRRRballs Festival was sponsored by Royal Canin, Vodafone, Farsons and Playmobil.

Why do we insist on reducing stray populations of cats and dogs?

Domestic cats and dogs are dependent on humans because we have co-existed for centuries. These animals have no natural habitat and often suffer from abuse, accidents, health problems, starvation and dehydration when they are abandoned. In large numbers, these animals also have a negative impact on the environment they live in; cats often prey on wildlife and reduce numbers of birds, insects, lizards and other creatures that are crucial to our ecosystem. Dogs are pack animals even though those on our streets are domestic breeds; dogs also have an impact our natural environment. Unfortunately they are less accepted and often shunned by communities of humans. This is due to the fact that dogs have fewer options than cats does to prey for survival. As a result, dogs look for human companionship for food and survival and often scavenge and rummage through garbage bags for scraps of food.

Responsible owners of cats and dogs that are allowed to roam are also advised to neuter their pets in order not to contribute to this problem which is completely ignored by authorities and costs of which lie only in the hands of carers, fund-raising organisations, animal shelters and sanctuaries. A homeless domestic cat or dog is often unhappy and vulnerable left out on the street because they try to survive in conditions which their instinct and bodies aren’t able to cope with.

How you can help:

• Support your local cat/dog feeder with vet runs, neutering bills and/or recovery space or donate money or voluntary help to animal-welfare organisations;

• Neuter your own pets;

• If you want to adopt a cat or a dog, do not buy one but adopt a homeless one from one of the local sanctuaries.