Animal rights activists slam SPCA charity for euthanising 5,000 animals a year
Protesters say charity's report shows its puts down about 5,000 animals every year
The city's leading animal welfare charity yesterday found itself the target of a protest by animal welfare activists. They accuse it of making rash decisions on euthanasia and refusing to consider the views of animal rights groups.
About 20 activists protested yesterday outside the Wan Chai headquarters of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, accusing it of abandoning its mission and spending too much on its own organisation, rather than welfare.
"The SPCA should try harder to save animals under its care, such as appealing to animal lovers through social media, before taking that final step to conduct euthanasia," said Aden Wong Chi-shun, a protest organiser.
Citing the SPCA's annual report, the protesters say about half the 10,000 abandoned animals the SPCA receives each year are put to sleep. They said its criteria for euthanasia should be made public.
"The SPCA has turned its back on its mission, which is to promote kindness to animals," Wong said.
Fellow protester David Wong Kai-yan said activists could, in the long run, seek election to the SPCA's committee in the hope of getting a bigger say.