Bhutan's Experience In Implementing OIE Animal Welfare Standards. Dr. Kinlay Dorji National AW Focal Point

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1 Bhutan's Experience In Implementing OIE Animal Welfare Standards Dr. Kinlay Dorji National AW Focal Point Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare

2 Animal Welfare Legislation Bhutan does not have a separate Animal Welfare Act but Welfare of animals is included under the Chapter X of The Livestock Act of Bhutan-2001 and Livestock Rules and Regulations of Bhutan The Act spells out the following: The Ministry of Agriculture shall prescribe a set of minimum standards for animal welfare Livestock shall be kept, cared and transported with due attention paid to their health and welfare Livestock shall not be subjected to any unnecessary suffering or injury All livestock and poultry must be provided with adequate feed, water and shelter Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare

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4 Activities Related to Animal Welfare o Bhutan is in the process of amending the current Livestock Act. The welfare aspects will be covered comprehensively. A group is formed and started working on it Prepared and approved guidelines for Tshe-thar (setting animals free to accumulate merit) activities Seminar on Animal Welfare, held on 1 st August, 2012 in Thimphu, Bhutan, saw participants from HSI Asia, HSUS, HSI India and Animal Welfare Board of India Official Declaration of Battery Cage Free Poultry Farming in Bhutan was launched on 2 nd August, nd Phase National Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Project was also launched on 2 nd August, 2012 Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare

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6 Stray Dog Population Management This is covered under the Chapter IX of Livestock Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, Compulsory pet registration and vaccination against rabies A 3 year ( ) nation-wide project was initiated in partnership with Humane Society International (HSI) for stray dog population management and rabies control program (National Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Project). HSI advocates a strategy called Capture, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release (CNVR). Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare

7 Issues related to stray dogs in Bhutan Dog bite cases in human Rabies in dogs/domestic animals/human Nuisance caused by dogs barking and howling at night, fouling of streets, preventing early morning jogging Livestock predation Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare

8 Methods adopted to control stray dog population in the past Bhutan is a buddhist country and people of Bhutan have a strong buddhist religious base and therefore, kindness is a core value of our culture. For Bhutan, controlling the population of stray dogs using fatal methods was never an option. Nevertheless, following methods were adopted in the past: Elimination using parenteral drugs (Dart guns) and oral poisoning (strychnine) Ad hoc sterilization and vaccination campaigns Impounding of dogs Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare

9 National Dog population Management and Rabies control Project The project is a partnership between the Royal Government of Bhutan, HSI and the Bhutan Foundation. Aims: To reduce the free roaming dog population in a humane and sustainable manner To improve the health and welfare of the free roaming dogs To reduce the incidence of rabies and dog-bite cases in humans and animals To reduce economic losses to subsistence farming communities To address community concerns and improve the tourist experience in Bhutan by reducing the perceived risk of dog bite and rabies infection and by addressing issues such as dog-noise, fouling of streets and livestock predation To reduce Ministry of Health s expenditure for managing rabies and dog bite incidents Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare

10 Progress report of the joint RGOB-HSI National Dog Population Management and Rabies Control Project 4 Months Pilot Phase (2009): 2846 dogs and cats were sterilized and vaccinated 1 st Phase of the Project ( ): dogs and 1548 cats 2 nd Phase of the Project ( ): dogs and cats since the start of 2 nd phase in July 2012 till 31 st July 2013 Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare

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20 Non-Governmental Organizations There are four NGOs who are involved in animal welfare. Royal Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (RSPCA) Jangsa Animal Saving Trust Semchen Tsochap Tshogpa (Animal Life Saving Association) Semchen Tsethar Choetshog Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare

21 Royal Society for Protection and Care of Animals (RSPCA) To protect and care for all animals in Bhutan To ensure the welfare of the animals To work in harmony with all the relevant stake holders bearing the interest of the animals To operate and run a Animal welfare Shelter Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare

22 Jangsa Animal Saving Trust and Tsethar Tshogpa Involved in Buddhist act of saving and preserving animal lives Operates animal shelter Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare

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24 THANK YOU Seminar for OIE National Focal Point for Animal Welfare