Paws for a Cause-Guyana Inc (PFAC-G) yesterday hosted its first event to raise funds to build a shelter for stray animals.
The event, which was held at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground, follows on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the non-profit organisation and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI) last Monday to make roads a safer place for animals.
The MoPI provided the organisation with two locations, which are at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara and Paradise, East Coast Demerara, where they can build two animal shelters.
A press release issued by the ministry stated that the move was triggered by the fact that over the years, animals have constantly been run over or killed on roadways.
“The agreement will also seek to create a healthy and safe environment associated with appropriate ethical management and control of the animal population [for] the maintenance of civil infrastructure, with specific emphasis on roadways across the country,” the release stated.
According to one of five directors of the organisation, Marcia Tucker, who spoke to Sunday Stabroek at the ‘Christmas Market’ event yesterday, PFAC-G presently has no official headquarters and animals are kept at temporary foster homes. She revealed that the purpose of the event was to raise funds for the building of the Den Amstel shelter and to buy medical supplies for the animals they are currently fostering. She was hopeful that by February, 2020, the first shelter will be built.
Meanwhile, Indira Mattai, another director of PFAC-G, said that the organisation was formally registered as a non-profit entity in February and has since done a number of events to assist stray animals. She said that they have adopted a mandate of promoting animal rights in Guyana by raising awareness so that animal cruelty can be decreased.
Further, Mattai said that with the help of other organisations, PFAC-G has done a number of spay and neuter campaigns so as to control the stray animal population. She also said for this year over 90 animals have been adopted through PFAC-G and at least 50 cats and dogs are currently up for adoption.
The three other directors are Alexandra Correia, Rabin Chandarpal and Steffi De Nobrega.
During the signing of MoU, Chandarpal, who played an integral part in the partnership, was quoted as saying, “We are really excited about this and it couldn’t have come at a better time. We have seen [much carnage] over the past months. The cause of this is beyond just smooth roads, drinking and driving, there seems to be a really bad culture of driving on the road and we know that the animal issue is one that is seen as relatively small, but, we at PFAC-G really believe that there is a strong connection between humans and animals. People see animals being run over and we see it as the value of life for animals being reduced and hence, we are striving to make a difference.”
Meanwhile, yesterday’s event offered persons an opportunity to dress up their pet and take them out to mingle with other animals. Prizes for best dressed dogs were up for grabs as was a trip for two to Kaieteur Falls.
