Tuesday, June 13, 2017

KSPATH is Closing




I'm sorry, but WTF?  The only government-licensed animal shelter in Kuwait closing it's doors???

Official notice from KSPATH:

Sheikha Fatima M. Al Sabah announces closure of Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat (K’S PATH)

  • Says “We worked very hard to improve animal welfare standards and set an example for new animal groups in Kuwait”

Sheikha Fatima Mubarak Al Sabah, the Chairperson of Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat (K’S PATH) announced this morning the decision to close K’S PATH by the end of six months that is December 2017. All animals at the K’S PATH shelter will be adopted out in Kuwait or will be rehomed in international shelters. No animals will be put down.

Dissolution of K’S PATH 
Citing reasons for closing K’S PATH, Sheikha Fatima M. Al Sabah explains that the K’S PATH team has worked very hard for the past 12 years to protect Kuwait’s animals and the environment and thankfully, much has been achieved through the years. Therefore the decision to close the Society is not based on financial or administrative reasons or as a result of any problem; but this decision was made based on the knowledge that Kuwait’s animals and environment will be cared for by compassionate people in the community. She further adds that the new animal protection and environmental laws passed by Kuwait’s Parliament reflect the progressive approach of the Government authorities to foster future generations that appreciate Kuwait’s natural heritage.
Thanking the Community
Additionally, Sheikha Fatima M. Al Sabah thanks all members of the community who have supported her and the Society over the past 12 years. She also extends her love and gratitude to the K’S PATH team of staff and volunteers, for their dedication and efforts in contributing to the welfare of Kuwait’s animals and environment; May the Almighty protect Kuwait’s people and animals.
The Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat was officially recognized as Kuwait’s first legal animal welfare and habitat protection society in 2014 by the Ministry of Social Affairs, and was founded in 2005 by Ayeshah Al Humaidhi who first established a shelter in Wafra to protect abandoned, homeless and rescued animals. Sheikha Fatima M. Al Sabah became a volunteer at K’S PATH in 2009, and became the Chairperson in a few years.
K’S PATH Achievements
In 12 years, K’S PATH has cared for over 18,000 animals across over 41 species including companion animals, farm animals and wildlife. The Society has adopted out over thousands of animals including relocations to regional and international sanctuaries. K’S PATH’s Marine Conservation Program launched in 2011 has conducted over 300 beach, island and desert cleanups, clearing over 80,000 tonnes of terrestrial marine waste, through the support of over 4000 volunteers. It also registered over 800 volunteers to help at the shelter and awareness events. K’S PATH’s Humane Education Program reached over 22,900 students across 40 schools and universities. Its humane animal control program is a compassionate and effective alternative for reducing street cat and stray dog population. K’S PATH is also the official country representative of Kuwait for World Animal Day.

3 comments:

AG said...

Absolutely devastating. I know she tried so hard to keep things going, but with pretty much zero support from the government, it's evidently impossible. I would love to know if they have any Salukis and how many. If we can get them here we can foster them and seek out forever homes. Ugh, so heartbreaking.

Gela said...

Thanks for posting, DG. I know a lot of people there are shocked. I would hope some kind of outcry would possibly delay this altogether, because it's just going to be more stray cats roaming around the city and more dogs being dumped in the desert, sadly.

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