Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare has warned against taking cats to the pet care facility, Olhuhiyaa, without adhering to the established guidelines and regulations.
The state-of-the-art pet care facility was established on a 500 sqft land plot in Hulhumale' Phase II, aiming to address the issue of stray cats. The facility was inaugurated by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on November 2. The pet care facility includes a quarantine area, a clinic, a laboratory, and a pharmacy.
The ministry disclosed that it had provided guidelines outlining the procedures for bringing stray cats to the facility, along with standard operating procedures (SOPs), plans, and recommendations to the Male' City Council. However, no response has been received. The ministry further emphasised that transporting cats to the facility without following the SOPs could pose significant health risks to the animals.
The government has identified several shortcomings and potential consequences of the situation:
1. There are no qualified or registered workers at the facility. The ministry oversees the regulation of veterinary service providers and professionals to ensure compliance with animal welfare standards.
2. The facility lacks designated cages for quarantining cats that are brought in for the first time.
3. The facility is not equipped with the necessary systems to perform surgeries on cats. The ministry has proposed plans to the Ministry of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works to address this gap.
4. There is no waste management system in place to handle hazardous biological waste from the facility.
5. There is no designated system for providing food, water, or cat litter for the animals.
6. The facility is without staff responsible for caring for the cats.
7. There is no system for obtaining the relevant medications for the cats.
8. Although a proposal for structural improvements to the facility has been submitted to the Ministry of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works, no progress has been made.
The animal welfare ministry has stressed the urgent need to address these issues before the facility can officially begin providing services.