As you know, in our CNRM, R stands for REHOME as well as RETURN (to colony).
We always say that REHOME is ideal, but being realistic, we know this is not always possible, so the next best option would be to return the animal to the colony it came from. The “advantages” (if it could be called that) of this would be:
1. Preserve the eco-system as all animals play a role in the ecology.
2. Prevent a “vacuum” when the animal is removed. A vacuum might cause another un-neutered animal to colonise the space and the problem starts all over again.
3. Some adult animals might not be comfortable being rehomed into an unnatural environment (our homes). They may be happier living on the streets. But yes, we totally acknowledge the fact that free-roaming street animals are subject to risks of accidents, abuse and diseases.
We call these animals “community animals” as they are returned to the community and their caregiver continues looking after them.
I’ve been communicating with a reader of this blog. She is not in favour of the term “community animals” and this is why:
I like to commend you for highlighting the plights of street animals. If more people are aware and expose to sufferings and how terrible life is as street animals they may want to make a different themselves individually.
The downside of which I did not quite agree with you re the term community animals is that some people will buy into the romantic notion that community animals are being cared and feed by a community. Pet owners will justify their actions of throwing out their unwanted pets i.e.excess (when not spayed or neutered), old or not cute to the streets’ as they convinced themselves and others that the ‘community animals are being taken care by the community’ so no worries. No guilt. Just an easy way out.
The truth of the matter is that it is actually one or two persons of the community that is doing all the caring and feeding these poor animals. Here it is a losing battle trying to protect and prevent these poor creatures from being caught by council, or end up in cooking pots or used as target practices by sadists and some affluent areas have street animals rounded up for labs for animal testings. It the stark reality of street animals in Malaysians streets now.
I’m totally open to and very appreciative of constructive differing views if they are presented with the intention of helping the street animals in better ways. If you have any thoughts on this, please leave a comment. Together, maybe we could source better ways to help them.
It’s all for the animals!
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