DOHA: A petition signed by thousands of people urging to improve conditions of animals at the pet section of the Souq Waqif will be handed over to officials in the first week of June.
The petition posted on Change.org aims to receive 5,000 signatures and had more than 3,000 by last evening.
It is addressed to Director of Animal Resources Department at the Ministry of Environment, Head Veterinary Licence Com, the Ministry of Environment and Director Souq Waqif, c/o Animal Health Expert - Technical Office, Animal Resources Department.
“I am planning to deliver the petition and all the relevant documents and photos by hand by the end of the first week in June,” the creator of the petition seeking anonymity told this newspaper.
“I am certainly hoping that it will raise awareness in the government departments to encourage them to make the difference we are all hoping for,” creator of the petition said further.
The petition separately highlights about the conditions of reptiles such as, turtles, tortoises, iguanas, small mammals such as guinea pigs, rabbits, chipmunks, sugar gliders, squirrels and hamsters, birds like African grey, parrots, macaws, cockatoos, budgies, cockatiels, canaries chicks and ducklings dogs and cats
It says that most of the animals are housed in unsuitable cages and fed a nutrient deficient diet and wrong diet for species. They are dehydrated from lack of access to fresh water and may be infected with disease and parasites. This is a health hazard not only to the production animals in Qatar, but also potentially to the visitors.
The petition says that most vendors have little or no education on how to care correctly for animals. It also claims that vendors at the pet section of the Souq Waqif are supplying false information and documents with regard to an animal’s origins and state of health.
Some people had disclosed reasons for signing the petition.
“Animals are creatures which feel pain and cruelty yet cannot express their emotions. This in I humane the way they are treating them and keeping them then discarding them if they don’t get bought,” says a signatory to the petition.
Another signatory says “I have been there and it’s appalling the ways the animals are treated. I wanted to take them all home.”
The Peninsula
