2024-01-13 13:08:00
Since January 1, the Brussels Wildlife Care Center no longer takes care of rabbits, parakeets, snakes and other domestic animals. Our journalist Kaïma Boudiaf went there to gather some explanations on this decision.
The Brussels Wildlife Care Center welcomes and takes care of hedgehogs, foxes, bats, swans… But no more domestic animals since January 1st.
Following this decision, many are wondering where these pets who have been welcomed until now will go. “There is no ideal solution”, explains Natalia Grega, spokesperson for the Royal Belgian League for the Protection of Birds (LRBPO). “For certain animals, such as rabbits, canaries, parakeets; there are alternatives such as shelters in the Brussels region and surrounding areas, such as Help Animals or the Veeweyde shelter… But I would like to point out that the animal shelter sector is really in distress, it is high time to find solutions, to co- build long-term solutions with stakeholders on the ground.”
Last year, more than 3,500 animals were cared for at the Wildlife Care Center. A considerable figure which led the structure to take the decision to no longer accept pets. “The situation is truly untenable. The initial mission of the Royal Belgian League for the Protection of Birds is really the care of wildlife, it is important to refocus on this”continues Natalia Grega. “Because there are really a lot of risks in welcoming domestic animals here, such as the spread of diseases between domestic animals and wild animals but also because the infrastructure is no longer suitable for so many animals.”
Until now, caring for domestic animals added around 30% additional work for volunteers.
animals shelter wildlife wild animals home domestic animals
1705177408
#Dogs #cats #rabbits #Wildlife #Care #Center #distress #longer #welcomes #domestic #animals
