Animal rights activist Ghina Nahfawi stressed the need to deal seriously with the issue of stray dogs and protect animals from attacks, considering that the lack of accountability and the negligence of the concerned authorities contribute to exacerbating the crisis instead of addressing it.
In an interview on the “3:15” program on “RED TV,” Nahfawi said, “People who train dogs to become ferocious for the purpose of betting must be held accountable,” considering that the state is not performing its duty properly in this file.
Nahfawi praised the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Nizar Hani, noting that he launched the National Plan “TNVR,” and said: “Thanks to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Nizar Hani, who launched the National Plan “TNVR,” and the municipalities that do not cooperate bear responsibility.”
She believed that municipalities have an essential role in monitoring pet shops that are not licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture, calling for taking the necessary measures against violators, and not leaving this sector without supervision.
Nahfawi stressed that the presence of stray dogs and cats, after they have been vaccinated and neutered, constitutes a beneficial factor for the ecosystem, stressing that the solution is not to remove the animals or harm them, but rather through scientific and humane management of the issue.
She pointed out that the cost of municipalities’ attention to stray dogs is “small” and does not justify negligence in addressing the crisis, stressing that waiting is no longer an option, because the number of stray dogs is increasing and the problem is worsening with the passage of time.
Nahfawi’s positions come in light of the escalation of debate about how to address the issue of stray animals in Lebanon, between calls to activate the role of municipalities, implement official plans, and promote a culture of animal welfare, away from random solutions that complicate the crisis instead of containing it.
