The Uruguayan Society of Veterinary Specialists in Small Animals (Suvepa) released a statement after four sheep, two dead and two seriously injured, were exposed in Plaza Independencia by producers who brought them to the capital to expose the drama of dog attack on sheepfolds.
“As veterinarians we can only be ashamed of these manifestations that threaten animal welfare.” Thus begins the statement released through social networks.
A half dozen sheep producers, from different parts of the interior of the country such as Durazno and Lavalleja, settled this Friday in Plaza Independencia for a couple of hours to exhibit the bodies of these animals, as a result of a new dog attack.
They traveled hundreds of kilometers to denounce, in front of the seat of government, the persistent lack of solutions to a problem that generates serious damage not only economically, but also mentally, as they explained to those who came to speak with them.
— SUVEPA (@SUVEPA_UY) January 29, 2022
Suvepa requested through the National Institute of Animal Welfare (IMBA) and the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) that “Take action on the matter”; They asked the authorities to “locate” those responsible for the “inconceivable” event. They also called for sanctions. “We cannot allow this type of demonstration to be accepted as acceptable, contravening all animal welfare standards that our legislation determines,” they said.
Sheep producers demonstrated in front of the Executive Tower due to the repeated dog attacks suffered by the flocks. pic.twitter.com/aMD19Ej99q
– The Agro Observer (@ObservadorAgro) January 28, 2022
“We are empathic and we understand” that agricultural producers have seen how loose dogs “wreak havoc” on production animals, the veterinarians stated in the letter. Likewise, they understand that the National Institute for Animal Welfare (INBA), together with other civil society organizations —including Suvepa itself— “should accelerate the pertinent actions to mitigate this problem.” Despite this, reality “cannot allow us to validate any means for the manifestation of disagreements,” the veterinarians maintained.
