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Thu, Jul 07 2010 |
International animal-rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) staged the offbeat demonstration in a bid to raise Lebanon’s awareness about the importance of animal birth control. The giant prophylactic, containing PETA director Jason Baker, was accompanied by a heart-shaped sign explaining PETA’s stance: “Dogs and Cats Can’t Use Condoms. Spay and Neuter.”
“This is a fun and provocative way to remind people that animals can’t use condoms and the best way to prevent a population crisis is simply to spay and neuter,” said PETA senior campaigner Ashley Fruno.
“In Lebanon and around the world dogs and cats that live on the street die of starvation, are mistreated by humans and hit by cars. The simplest way to end this suffering is to spay and neuter,” Fruno said.
PETA is one of the world’s largest animal-rights groups and has over 2 million members in scores of countries. PETA’s Asia Pacific contingent recently visited Egypt to promote numerous animal welfare issues.
Baker said the campaign to get pets spayed and neutered was one of the easiest ways in which members of the public could get involved in the fight for animal rights.
“There are lots of issues, but this is one that the public can have a say in. Most people see stray animals in their daily lives and they could do something about it. We want to spark a debate on the issue that hasn’t been around enough,” Baker told The Daily Star after being de-sheathed.
The Middle East and North Africa region lags behind others in terms of animal-rights legislation. In Lebanon, for example, the fine for being convicted of animal cruelty remains a paltry LL10,000. In addition, tens of thousands of stray animals roam the streets each day and night, causing health and noise problems among most communities.
Baker, however, was optimistic over the progress of animal rights in the region.
“The issues are not discussed a lot in this region, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important. It is the job of PETA to be pushing the envelope and to be getting those discussions out there,” he said. “Animal welfare issues are more readily known [in Lebanon] and the spay and neuter issue is known here more than in other regional countries.”
Fruno praised local animal-rights organizations for helping to spread the word against cruelty. “There are several great local groups here. Today is just another way of drawing attention to what happens to animals on the street,” she said.
Animal-rights legislation has been pushed by charities, but such a law is low down the priorities list of a government still making up ground lost in last year’s Cabinet formation delay.
Baker called on the government to act. “You see all these amazing buildings going up around town and [Beirut] is such a sophisticated, modern city and the country as a whole is a leader in so many areas in the region. It’s time its animal welfare laws moved up to that same level.”
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