Thank you to everyone who helped organise, publicise, translate and physically helped on the Spay and Neuter clinic on Tuesday.
It was a great success! 16 animals, from 2 months old and up, were desexed.

What can LAP do about castrating the stray cats and dogs?.. this is where the real problem lies. Would you accept donations to have these desexed at your next Spaybus event?

What is wrong with feral cats breeding after all they keeps the rats down and don't bother anybody. Dogs I agree yes they are dangerous and crap on the path so cut their knackers off. Last year feral dogs killed Dr Franks goats in his garden, poor goats didn't stand a chance as they were tethered.

Li-Ka-Donkey asks how we managed to count the cats. It is difficult because sometimes the cats are visible and sometimes they are not.
But we have visited all the cat colonies in North Lamma on many occasions and have talked with the colony carers and have come to know many of the cats as individuals so we now have a pretty good idea how many cats are in each colony. The number of 700 is about right for the whole of North Lamma excluding Pak Kok.
SPCA who supervise the CCCP scheme came here last month and did a counting with scientific method - we haven't heard their total yet but it will be considerably less as they only went to specified areas and they had strict rules about the speed of walking through the area, within how many metres could a cat be counted, etc. The SPCA method will not produce an accurate absolute total but it will be more reproducible since it is done by independent observers without local knowledge. Their purpose is to prove the effectiveness of the programme over time in a way that is scientifically acceptable.
What was the situation before LAP started? We haven't reduced the numbers much yet - 70% have to be desexed before natural attrition starts to cause the numbers to go down. Unless we get more funds and volunteers, we reckon it will take about another two to three years to achieve the effective figures. But the cats are already much healthier and much more fun to have around.
Previously any citizen could complain to the Government that the cats were causing a nuisance and the AFCD would come and kill some - a total waste of time as killed ones are soon replaced by immigration and breeding. The Trap, Neuter, Release method will bring about permanent solutions.

I am interested just how (and why) these cats are 'cared' for after they have been desexed (and good on you for all your trapping efforts).

Dont forget that the snakes on Lamma are pretty effective at controlling the rat population also.

As for dogs, start trapping the 'feral' ones as well, and make the owners pay to get the buggers back is what I say, but only after they have been neutered and microchipped. Too many people just put the dogs out for the day when they go to work. STOP IT!!

How are the cats cared for?
Food is put down for them regularly and they are given water in dry weather. If they get sick they are trapped and taken for treatment.

Why are the cats cared for?
Because it is the humane thing to do - respect for life.
Because if they get hungry they open litter bags and are more likely to eat poisons.

Wandering dogs ("latch-key" dogs) - these are a major problem - they attack cats (and goats), open rubbish bins, shit anywhere, get females pregnant, etc. Yes, we need to get them desexed and under control. Unfortunately dogs are considered property and we are up against the property laws if we capture them and neuter them - so if this is to be done, it needs to be done unofficially. Please, anyone reading this, if you know of anyone who allows their dog to wander while they are out at work - tell them to stop this bad habit. They should take the dog out for a walk before work and after work - and, if possible, arrange for someone to take the dog for a walk in the middle of the day. And they should get the dog desexed - LAP is trying to arrange another Spay Day in early February.
John.

Hey Johnnyboy, That's some kind of civic duty you've got !!!! It's good to know that there are people like you and Sheila around, giving up some of your precious time to animal welfare is a very commendable thing to do indeed. Allow me to quote one of my all time Idols ( Mahatma Gandhi ) Yes the Great Man himself !!! It goes something like that........".You'll distinguish what kind of people they are by how they treat their animals", once he said to his listeners. I hope that I did not misquote him, a lightning strikes me if I did I am sure that these virtues will serve to enrich your characters. Well buddies, keep up the good work !!!!!!!


Schan6
[/quote]

Dear Shiela, My sincere appology, that was what we call a 'Lapsus' (Latin) and no offence intended I hope that you'll forgive me for my oversight.I have a bad habit not to proof-read prior to submitting any of my contributions. I think I owe you an explanation !! Well well... originally the posting was intended for John, then suddenly, having read your contribution previously your name popped up and I remembered that your're an animal lover too!!, just like me and I decided to include you in my eulogy and I inserted your name after I have concluded my piece, inadvertently or negligently I have failed to read the text and I posted it in haste! I hope that this explanation was enough to justify my genuine LAPSUS?! Again, sincere appologies.

Best regards

Schan6

By popular demand the SPCA Spaybus will come two days this month - Wednesday 12th and Friday 14th. We have easily filled the first day but we need more bookings for the second day.

Date : Wednesday, 12/FEB/2003 and Friday, 14/FEB/2003

Time : 7.45am

Venue : The Spay Bus will be parked outside Pier 4 of the Outlying Islands
Ferry Terminal but we shall meet on Yung Shue Wan Ferry Pier. Animals can be
taken over on the ferry either by their owners or by LAP volunteers.
IN EITHER CASE IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT!

Fee : Male cat neuter: $100
Female cat spay: $200
Male dog neuter: $200
Female dog spay: $300

Volunteers are needed to stay with the animals from 7.45am until their
return in the late afternoon.

For booking and for volunteering please leave a message at 2982 4018 or
write to john@lap.org.hk (booking essential!)

If you know of any dogs or cats in your area that are not yet fixed, particularly if they are of the roaming variety, please do your best to persuade their owners to take advantage of this opportunity! It is important to do both males AND females.
John.

For the 2 spay-buses of Feb 12 and 14, a total of 28 animals (11cats and 17dogs) were spayed/neutered. LAP would like to thank everyone who has helped us.

Here is the information for the March Spay-bus:

Date : Tuesday, 11/MAR/2003 and Friday, 14/MAR/2003

Time, venue and fees will be the same as previous spay-buses. However, the bookings for March 11th are quite full already. If you want to use this service on March 14, please call LAP at 2982-4018 or email elizabeth@lap.org.hk to enquire. Please note that IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT!

We again need volunteers to help bring and accompany the animals in the morning from 7:45am to about 10am. Then again at around 4pm to 5pm to help bring them back to Yung Shue Wan. We would appreciate all the help that we can get.

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Learn more about the Lamma Animal Welfare Centre

My first time seeing the Spaybus at the Central-Lamma ferry pier.
A very professional-looking vehicle, inspiring trust and confidence...

<img src="http://www.lamma.com.hk/forum/images/e-zine/20/spaybus1.jpg" border=1 vspace=5>
<img src="http://www.lamma.com.hk/forum/images/e-zine/20/spaybus2.jpg" border=1 vspace=5>

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