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28 LOCAL NEWS AWEMainta Diahuebs, 5 October 2023

Minister Ursell Arends:

Are you a responsible pet owner?

ON a day dedicated to animals, we ask
the question: Are you a responsible pet

owner? Are you in compliance with our
Pet Law? Do you take care of your pet’s
health? Have you spayed/neutered and
microchipped your pet? Is your pet part

of your family? These are fundamental
questions that every responsible pet
owner should answer with a YES!

Today, the Ministry of Transportation,
Integrity, Nature, and Senior Affairs,
along with the Animal Control Center,
is launching a campaign to raise

awareness about responsible pet care.
During this campaign, we will provide
a lot of information on various topics
such as the Pet Law, pet health care,

spaying/neutering, microchipping,
euthanasia, and information about
our local animal welfare organizations.
These are crucial pieces of informa-

tion that every responsible pet owner
should be aware of.

In recent years, we have seen an

increase in the number of stray dogs
and cats on our streets. This is regret-
table because the root cause of this
problem is irresponsible pet owners

who acquire pets without the means to
care for them and then abandon them from the streets every day. However, accepting more animals into their care.
on the streets. after many years of rescuing stray
animals, most of them have reached Before you consider getting a dog or

Dogs and cats are domestic animals their maximum capacity. This means cat, ask yourself this question: Am I a
that rely 100% on their owners, and that they cannot assist the commu- responsible pet owner? Can I provide
when you abandon them, they lead nity as often as they used to, as they food and clean water every day? Do I
a life of cruelty, suffering, and pain. are already filled with dogs and cats have a safe and loving home for them?

Moreover, they will continue to repro- they rescued from the streets. What’s Can I afford their healthcare costs
duce, exacerbating the issue we face impressive is that despite these orga- every month? Can I afford to spay/
today. This is a problem that affects us nizations’ efforts to help and rescue neuter and microchip them? If you
all on this island, and it is essential to our street animals, our local population answer YES to these questions, then

realize that a change in our mindset is does not frequently adopt from these you are a responsible pet owner.
necessary to have a positive impact on organizations. As a result, these orga- The problem of pet overpopulation is
the current situation. nizations are left with the majority of significant, but together, as a conscious
the dogs and cats they rescue. Due to community, we can give our pets the

In Aruba, we have many organizations this, we have recently seen many orga- lives they deserve! Let’s all strive to be
that work tirelessly to rescue animals nizations impose a temporary halt on responsible pet owners.