What we should do with stray cats and dogs

published by Bijou Peters in the Gambian Sunday Observer newspaper

For many years, all animal lovers have been concerned about the growing number of stray dogs and cats within the city of Banjul and other urban centers within the country. Newspapers have published articles about it’s many sick , stray dogs around our markets, hospital grounds, and in the streets, which constitutes a danger to the community as they may harbour the deadly disease known as rabies.

At long last, an association has been established to study the problem and to deal with it. The name of the association is GambiCats and it was inaugurated in 1998 to help stray animals in The Gambia. It was registered as a charity organisation in 1999. The main objective of GambiCats is to enhance the welfare of stray cats and dogs in the country. We recognise that stray animals represent a menace and health hazard within the community and present an eyesore to the public and especially to our visitors – the many tourists who come to us annually. These animals are often ill and emaciated due to lack of food and have dreadfully sore ears.

Another motivation for GambiCats is the poor condition of the cats that wandered around the hotels and the inhumane methods used by hotel authorities to get rid of them. Sometimes, this might include poisoning them. In May 1998, a team of four interested and concerned persons including a verterinary surgeon, assembled to discuss the issue of stray cats in the hotels. They concluded that the cat colonies have to be prevented from producing kittens and increasing their numbers. A programme of neutering was organised and this group spent a week catching the stray cats found at the Kombo beach and Fajara hotels and carrying out the operation of neutering them with the help of a qualified vet. This exercise proved to be very successful, according to reports, and it helped to improve the welfare of cats in these two hotels. The cats soon recovered from the operation and a system of feeding them regularly was soon developed. A cat cafe was built and the cats encouraged to go there for feeding twice daily. The animals did not require much enticement as they very soon discovered the benefits of visiting the cat cafe. This scene of cats feeding at their cafe has become a form of entertainment for cat lovers among the tourists, some of whom help to feed them. As well as neutering, the cats were also dewormed by giving them the worming capsules once a month. Neutering keeps the number of cats low and they remain healthy.

Mr Dodou Bojang who was appointed local coordinator is tasked with maintaining and expanding the programme. He worked at the department of Livestock Services at Abuko for two years and gained the experience of animal care. He obviously loves animals and is dedicated to his work. At present, 10 hotels support the GambiCat’s scheme due to the effectiveness of the scheme and the work and interest of Mr Bojang. His work consists of twice daily visits to hotels included in the projects to feed the cats. Some of the cats are fed by the hotels. The department of Livestock Services fully endorsed the scheme and provided qualified staff and facilities for the neutering programme. Limiting the number of stray cats and keeping those that are there healthy is a great achievement and a long overdue project. 

On November 5 1998 a small group of animal lovers formed the Association for the Welfare of Animals in The Gambia (AWAG).

SPANA, the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, had proposed to help fund the work of GambiCats and AWAG for an initial period of two years. This programme is to be extended to cover stray beach dogs and donkeys which are frequently maltreated by their owners. Mr Bojang has trained two assistants who help him with the work. In August 1999, a member of the original team of May 1998, with a professional dog-handler, returned to the country for a week during which 20 stray dogs in the Senegambia area were caught, collared, dewormed and vaccinated against rabies. GambiCats‘ work is to be expanded to assessing the situation at two hospital sites where many cats and dogs are found, prepare leaflets about the care of dogs and cats which will be distributed to the public free of charge.

SPANA has consented to fund GambiCats for two years. So, at the end of the two years, what next? The scheme is an excellent one aimed at dealing with the problem of stray cats and dogs within the country. Every animal lover appreciates the efforts of GambiCats and feels that the project must be supported and sustained at all costs. Having stated that, it is recognised that funds are required for any project. GambiCats is a charity association and depends on the benevolence of individuals and the Alice Noakes Trust of the UK as well as SPANA. The public is also encouraged to support this audible scheme aimed at ridding the city and other urban centers of their large colony of stray cats and dogs. Donations to this worthy cause are solicited from interested persons.