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Trust launched to care for animals

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Blue Paw Trust (BPT) which aims to eradicate rabies, sterilise and inoculate stray animals, to humanely treat animals and the ultimate control of the stray animal population was launched recently.

The trustees of the Blue Paw Trust are Dr. Nalanika Obeysekera, Dr. Janaki Collure, Dr. Vipuli Kulasekera, Mrs. Chula Aresekularatne (Attorney-at-Law) and Shevanthi Jayasuriya.

The patrons of the trustee are Nigel Austin (Deputy Chairman - NISOL), Mahesh Amalean (Chairman MAS Holdings) and Cedric de Silva (Chairman George Keyt Foundation).

Addressing a conference of the Trust at the Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, US Ambassador Ashley Wills commended efforts of the trust." I would very much like to see this trust succeed and work to care for the stray animals." he added.

Colombo Mayor Prasanna Gunawardena said the Municipality has a great responsibility towards protecting the citizens of the Colombo city." We together have to work in making our city a more humane place and humane society. This will be another opportunity for the Colombo Municipal Council to get involved and participate with groups and individuals who are concerned about the welfare of people and their pets," he added.

Dr. Nalanika Obeysekera said the main objectives of the Trust are to eradicate rabies in the Western Province in the next five years and at a national level in the next 10 years." We are also planning to sterilise an estimated 4-5000 cats and dogs each year, to set up a transit home where accident victims and unwanted animals could be housed prior to re-homing."

Dr. Obeysekera noted that the trust envisages to make aware the necessity to resolve the stray animal population as well as the necessity to treat animals in a humane manner through education programmes.

The trust will also conduct seminars in schools and other existing networks at both district and divisional level, build awareness through the media, promote responsible pet ownership and public awareness.

Several fund-raising projects are planned for the year and these include a project where the popular band Wildfire will play in support of the Trust. Besides, a raffle draw in aid of the Trust, a pet exhibition and fair, membership drive will be worked out and a newsletter with advertisements will be published within this year, added Dr. Obeysekera.

The Council members are Ms. Nela de Zoysa, Sarath Piyaratne (Deputy CEO - HSBC), Ranel T. Wijesinha (Chartered Accountant), Mrs. Illika Karunaratne, Ms. Gwen Herat, Dr. Hans Wijeysuriya (CEO Dialog), Sangeeta Weeraratne, Mrs. Shehara de Silva, Vasantha Obeysekera and Arthur Senanayake (Chairman IWS Holdings).

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