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Crackdown on feral cats, dogs postponed over fears of abuse
The group raised concerns over the city’s crackdown on feral animals.
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Dogs play at Joglo Dog Villa dog hotel in Buaran, Serpong, South Tangerang, on Dec. 12, 2016. (JP/Ben Latuihamallo)
J
akarta Governor Anies Baswedan has decided to postpone the crackdown on feral animals slated for Tuesday following protests from animal welfare groups over fears of abuse.
Animal welfare group Garda Satwa Indonesia, through its Instagram account @gardasatwaindonesia, praised the decision.
“All organizations under the Association of Indonesia Anti-Violence on Domesticated Animals [GAKHDI] are ready to cooperate with the city administration regarding this issue. We will offer solutions,” the group wrote on its Instagram account on Tuesday.
It added that the association had sent a letter to the city asking for a meeting to discuss the issue.
The group raised concerns over the city’s crackdown on feral animals on one of its post, which also showed videos of cats allegedly being mistreated during a rabies transmitting program (HPR) in March last year.
Earlier on Tuesday, via his Instagram account @aniesbaswedan, the governor said he had instructed the Maritime, Fisheries and Food Security Agency (KPKP) to postpone the crackdown and to invite animal welfare groups for a discussion.
The agency was set to conduct a campaign on rabies prevention in five municipalities on Tuesday to raise awareness about the disease, which is transmitted by animals such as dogs, cats and monkeys.
Sri Hartati, the agency’s head, dismissed reports that went viral on social media that stated the agency would crack down on cats and dogs.
She said it would allow anyone who wanted to save stray animals to do so but noted that it would still capture feral cats and dogs.
