Macau (MNA) – The Society for the Protection of Animals (Anima) sounded the alarm on Thursday regarding the unchanging situation of the dogs located in the Macau Yat Yuen Canidrome. The President of Anima, Albano Martins, said that if nothing is done, the dogs “will finish on a table.”
He remarked that the opportunities to facilitate the adoption of the dogs are shrinking, despite there being over 300 petitions to adopt the animals.
The current racetrack will definitely close on July 2018, the local government has decided, however no alternative to the situation has been announced.
Anima has repeatedly requested the Macau SAR (MSAR) Government for a one-year period of time to organize the adoption of the dogs, as it believes that the canidrome will totally cease its activities.
However, the MSAR Government recently ordered Macau (Yut Yuen) Canidrome Co Ltd – the company in charge of the canidrome and owned by legislator Angela Leong – to either relocate its operations or shut down its facilities by July 2018. (Read further by clicking here)
According to Mr. Martins, the one-year extension period requested wouldn’t have any impact on the government’s redevelopment plans for the site where the racetrack is currently located, as the project is still in the early stages.
International campaign
Anima has undertaken several campaigns to press the government in order to get the legal permission needed to manage the adoption of the dogs. The latest efforts included support from French animal rights activist and actress Brigitte Bardot, and members of UK rock band Queen.
The animal protection organisation plans to continue relying on international campaigns as its main tool to put pressure on the MSAR Government, Anima President said.
Mr. Martins said that Anima cannot raise funds to help in the process as they are not legally able to deal with the adoptions.
He also said that the canidrome currently has 605 dogs, 66 of them inactive, and 44 with private owners.
