LANCIANO. Intervene immediately to stem the indiscriminate proliferation of stray cats and the spread of infectious diseases that put animals and potentially humans at risk, before the problem, from serious as it is now, can transform into an emergency in the very near future.
An urgent meeting was held in recent days between volunteers and associations for the defense of animals, the mayor Philip Pauline and the councilors for ecological transition and urban decorum, Tonia Paolucciand animal welfare, Mary Ida Troilo.
“We need a massive and drastic intervention,” comments Councilor Troilo, “and the collaboration of everyone, from private individuals to volunteers, veterinarians, local health authorities and associations. The institutions do what they can, but they only go so far. To stem a problem that is becoming increasingly serious, we need to invest not only energy, but also funds. I am thinking, for example, of the Municipality of Pescara, which in 2023 allocated 15 thousand euros for a situation similar to ours.” The problem has exploded in recent years and was brought to the attention of the administration by the association “With Nero’s Eyes.” “The discomfort has always been there,” he says Young Coconutpresident of the association, «but following numerous phone calls not only from people from Lanciano, but also from tourists, we decided to carry out a sort of mapping of the “colonies” (the real ones and recognized as such are registered in the Region, ndc) in city neighborhoods. And we have seen that there are extreme situations where private individuals, while feeding these little animals and ensuring they have a place to stay by filling garages, are not actually carrying out adequate health practices and, in some cases, with obvious problems for the hygiene of the affected area. Many cats are seriously ill, blind, with viral or intestinal diseases that are transmitted to other cats. And we must obviously keep in mind the problem of sterilizations: nobody does them, mainly because they are very expensive and cats, which are very fertile, reproduce exponentially».
The concentration of sick colonies and therefore requiring attention was recorded in the stadium area, Santa Rita neighborhood, Mancino and Quadrato area, via Del Verde, near the Pianeta shopping center, Marcianese and Villa Andreoli. In each neighborhood, as witnessed by the association, at least 3 colonies coexist. Some of these (15%) are managed admirably by private citizens who provide sterilization, health care and maintenance at their own expense, but others flounder between the economic capacity of private individuals and little or no health care. Hence the emergency. “We have made an appointment for after August”, concludes Councilor Troilo, “because we need to intervene as soon as possible”.
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