[MS profile]
Yemen
The Yemeni Organization for the Protection of Animals
The Yemeni Organization for the Protection of Animals (YOPA) is a new
animal welfare organisation in Yemen. One of only a handful of animal and
wildlife protection organisations in the country, YOPA was formed in 2010 by
members concerned about the welfare of strays and homeless animals in
cities and rural areas.
Stray dogs and cats in Yemen source food by relying on scavenging in cities,
as well as attacking domestic poultry and small animals in remote areas. As a
result of this desperate behaviour, along with their vulnerability to diseases,
stray animals are likely to encounter very low standards of welfare. They often
receive poor treatment at the hands of the people they come into contact with.
Strays are also at a high risk of traffic accidents, putting both themselves and
humans in danger.
The problem of rabies
Rabies is another problem with dogs in Yemen and the authorities regularly
cull street dogs in an attempt to control the disease, poisoning 5,500 strays in
the capital city of Sana’a in the first quarter of 2010. This measure proved
ineffective, as well as inhumane, with the number of human rabies cases
rising after the cull. The need for a rabies vaccination programme is one of the
areas in which YOPA will push for change.
YOPA’s priority is to provide shelter and homes for stray animals, as well as
to use education to raise awareness of animal welfare problems in Yemen.
The organisation will work towards both changing the mindset of people
towards animals, as well as securing legislative change. YOPA hopes that
together these initiatives will help to develop a culture of animal welfare in
Yemeni society and, as a result, promote positive attitudes towards animal
protection and care.
Early initiatives
One of YOPA’s first initiatives will be to implement an awareness programme
for school students in Sana’a. The programme aims to raise awareness in
youngsters about the importance of animals as a source of income for the
family and of economic development in Yemen. As a result, YOPA hopes to
encourage students to consider the importance of good animal welfare with
good animal husbandry.
YOPA also has plans to work in collaboration with various stakeholders, such
as the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, the Ministry of Education, and
local councils, to implement awareness programmes throughout Yemen. By
providing veterinary services and animal welfare practice training courses,
YOPA will offer support to communities with the aim of achieving good
standards of animal welfare across the country.
YOPA’s vision
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To improve people’s knowledge of animal welfare.
To increase awareness of animal welfare through the establishment of
educational and scientific events.
To operate a helpline service through its veterinary network.
To provide veterinary care for stray animals.
On a general level, to promote a responsible approach to pet
ownership and a positive attitude towards animal welfare.
To end the suffering of abused animals.
Yemeni Organization for the Protection of Animals
W: www.yopa-yemen.org
E: yopa.organization@yahoo.com