The problem
There has been a rise in the malpractice of selling live animals, especially dogs along the streets. Animals being sold, usually very young puppies, and kittens, are exposed to extreme weather conditions, suffer from severe dehydration, malnutrition and are taken away from their mothers before they are even capable of opening their eyes. This in turn leads to medical and behavioural implications later on in life.
It is a cruel practice
Buying dogs from the streets helps to perpetuate this cruel trade and needs to stop!
When you buy a dog from the side of the road, you are supporting an illegal operation that thrives on poor animal welfare. Animals that are sold on the side of the road are housed in poor conditions with improper medical care, are often starving and thirsty, and are often very sick and behaviourally troubled as a result. The mothers of these puppies are continually bred under pitiful circumstances until they are of no use to the breeder, then, they are inhumanely disposed of.
What we do
The Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care for the Animals (LSPCA) has embarked on a project to stop the roadside sale of pets. The project focuses on creating awareness about the suffering of animals that are being sold along the roads, and the risks for humans to buy these animals from the streets. LSPCA is working with the community police who are also working with vendors to stop the roadside animal trade. Besides, LSPCA is working with the Malawi Police Services-Criminal Investigative Department officers who are tasked with confiscation of animals sold on the streets.
The danger to humans
Dogs sold on the streets usually do not get any veterinary attention. When humans buy dogs from the streets they risk getting a dog that has a high likelihood of Rabies, PARVO, ticks, and fleas. Rabies is a very dangerous disease and 99% fatal to humans.
It is illegal
Animals being sold alongside the roads are subjected to cruelty which is illegal according to the laws of Malawi, Animal Protection Act of 1970 (66). The act clearly prohibits any person to ill-treat, torture, infuriate, terrify or cause to procure or permit unnecessary suffering to any animal. Further to that, section 3 (1) (b) of the same Animal Protection Act forbids carrying or conveying, or permitting in a manner or position as to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal.
What (NOT) to do
- Call 172 (Toll-free number on TNM) to report the roadside animal sales
- Donate on LSPCA NBM 1006516428 to help us help the animals
- DO NOT buy any live animal from the streets
- DO NOT get involved in confiscating the animal from the vendor. It is dangerous and only Malawi Police is mandated to do this.
Adoption
LSPCA has a purpose-built rehoming shelter for dogs and cats, where we care for animals that have been surrendered, rescued, or confiscated from roadside sellers by the police. After medical examination, each animal is quarantined for thirty days to rule out any possible illness such as rabies. After that, our animals are looking for loving forever homes!
The fee for adopting a cat or a dog with us is only Mk6,000. This will get you a cat or a dog that has been vaccinated, dewormed, treated for ticks, and has been sterilized.
You can call us on +265995027815 for more information.
