“Stray-Free” Vs “Stray-Friendly” – Writing Again!

In October 2013, I wrote this: https://myanimalcare.org/2013/10/25/stray-free-vs-stray-friendly/

What I wrote back then is still relevant, so let me just cut and paste what I wrote, with some editing:

Recently, a lot of people forwarded a petition to us urging us to sign it. It was lobbying for a “stray-free” community. Many rescuers and animal caregivers signed it but I did wonder if they knew what they were signing for.

Just as in bank documents and legal letters, it is really, really important to read what one is signing.

Just how is the “stray free” status going to be achieved?

And while writing this, I am well aware that the term “stray” is derogatory, hence, we always use the term “street animals” instead of “strays”. But terminology aside, we don’t support a “stray-free” community if it means that the street animals will continuously be captured and killed.

How can any environment be “stray-free” in such a short time? Where are the strays going to go to? Which shelter or sanctuary isn’t full? How many new sanctuaries can we build? How many rescues can we rehome? How many can we adopt?

Instead, we would very much like to see a “stray-friendly” environment where humans and street animals live together with mutual caring and respect. You get to see this in some villages and small towns where humans and street animals live harmoniously together, with humans caring for the animals. These animals are usually very well-fed and friendly too because they trust humans. A friendly animal is the best testimony to how they have been treated. No further evidence is needed.

Photo courtesy of Mr Poon, in his visit to Bhutan in 2013.

Today, five years down the road, the term “stray free” seems to be a buzz word in the animal welfare circle. Many people are lobbying for it. What exactly does it mean? Does it mean that animals that are neutered and returned to colony are no longer regarded as “strays”?  How are they identified if someone were to report their presence to the authorities? Will the authorities know that these animals are being looked after by a feeder?

How often have feeders lamented to us that despite their pleading, neutered community animals are still being captured by the authorities.

So, what exactly is “stray free” then?

Today a friend shared something rather sad. I’ll cut and paste so that you hear it directly from the friend:

The food outlet is resorting to keep all food from stray cats so they die of starvation.. I’m not able to catch them today.. They ran under cars..try again tomorrow.

This eatery owner is now torturing cats. He was saying that govt said want stray free society by 2020 so now it is ok to slowly kill stray cats.  I was really boiling but kept my cool as I don’t want hot oil to be thrown on the 2 remaining cats..all 3 spent weeks under vet care for treatment as they were sickly..

Now people like the eatery owner is using the term “stray free” to torture the cats hoping they will die of starvation.. I was looking for the section where abandoning pets is an offence specifically..

This is exactly what I wrote about in 2013. One must be VERY careful with words, especially if one’s words carry a lot of weight. Or, if one uses powerful words which can influence the many, then one would have to explain carefully exactly what one means and ensure that this explanation reaches the masses.

Otherwise, words can kill. Literally.

It also reminds me of a case in a certain state where the term “stray free” was used by a very big animal organisation. The next day, the councils in that state started catching street animals to be put down. When asked why, the council people said, “Didn’t that organisation promote “stray-free” yesterday?”

So, please…

I have written about this too many times, but I’ll say it again. The Netherlands took more than 200 years to achieve the “stray free” status with dogs. There are no more free-roaming dogs in The Netherlands now. All dogs are pets; they have homes. It took them 200 years to achieve that, and that’s with the government’s support. But cats are still free roaming in The Netherlands and their government has laws that protect free roaming neutered cats. Their government is wise enough to know that you cannot make the country “stray free” from cats.

So, whatever our country wants to achieve, we urged those in power to please use their words carefully and not cause more harm than good.

How about using “stray-friendly” instead?

Source: https://myanimalcare.org/2018/12/03/stray-free-vs-stray-frie..

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AnimalCare is a registered society that promotes caregiving to street animals and helps in their neutering and medical needs. AnimalCare has a Medical Fund, Food Fund and Education Fund.

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