Here’s a short clip of PAFi’s policy on e.g. adoptions and importance of local work. Click here.

The video clip was published e.g. in online edition of Finnish newspaper Iltalehti on March 24th 2009.

Here’s a translation of the interview.

Netti-tv: Adopting dogs from abroad won’t solve the stray dog problem

Summary: Adopting a dog from abroad has become a trend in Finland. Adoptions, however, won’t help remove the actual stray dog problem. Finnish animal protection work e.g. in Romania is an example of a long-span way of helping: in addition to animals help is given also for the whole community.

Interviewee: Kiia Vasko, Pro Animals Finland

Reporter: Minna Pyykkö

Production: Nettitelkku 2009 and Pro Animals Finland

INTERVIEW:

“Yearly approximately a thousand abandoned dogs are adopted from abroad to Finland via internet. Although meaning well, adoptions don’t help solve the actual problem."

TEXT: Adopting dogs from abroad doesn’t solve the stray dog problem

Kiia Vasko, President of Pro Animals Finland: “If we take into consideration that one dog can have on average eight puppies a year, in five years this means 40 puppies. If there are 500 unspayed female dogs running around in the area in five years they have produced 20 000 puppies that will continue to grow the population. We could never bring enough cats and dogs from these problematic countries to solve the problem. That’s why we must find sustainable ways of helping beside adopting.”

(Footage from Tg-Jiun dog shelter)

”What is this sustainable animal protection that is being done by Finnish people i.a. in Romania in cooperation with a local animal protection organisation?”

Kiia Vasko, President of Pro Animals Finland: “Together we have coordinated e.g. neutering campaign where the locals could bring their pets for a free spaying/neutering and at the same time the pets received necessary vaccinations.”

(Footage of neutering campaign in August 2006).

“In many countries the origin of stray dog and cat populations is caused by cultural attitudes towards animals. That’s why animal protection demands for influencing the whole community.”

Kiia Vasko, President of Pro Animals Finland: “It also includes sending petitions and letters to EU-instances, local authorities and animal welfare organisations worldwide.”

“But what makes people fight for animals in a foreign country no less?”

Kiia Vasko, President of Pro Animals Finland: “The basis of all should be that people are not left out when animals are given help. Helping animals and people could and should go hand-in-hand.”