Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare Dr. Aishath Rameela has announced the government’s objective to expand veterinary clinic services across the nation.
In response to the rising population of stray cats and to ensure their safety, the government is implementing several initiatives. These include the establishment of a veterinary clinic and a cat shelter to address the health needs of stray cats. Additionally, a bill which mandates the registration of pets and the creation of legislations related to animal-related matters has been proposed as well. The animal welfare ministry stated that upon the completion of the cat shelter in Male' City, efforts will be made to establish additional shelters throughout the atolls.
Providing information on this initiative, Minister Dr. Rameela acknowledged the difficulties faced by island residents in accessing veterinary services in Male' City whenever their pets require medical attention. The minister also mentioned the challenges faced by veterinarians in travelling to the islands to ensure the health and well-being of animals. Therefore, she stated that the government plans to establish veterinary clinics in atolls to address this issue. She added that the current priority of the government is to complete the development of the veterinary clinic in Male' City, and to send veterinary teams to the atolls on a regular basis.
Furthermore, Minister Dr. Rameela reported that certain islands have expressed interest in relocating cats to shelters, adding that there have been requests for cat neutering services. Therefore, she announced that efforts to provide mobile neutering services will commence this month.