Dear members and friends,

The third quarter of the year is already upon us and slowly the winter is approaching. Whatever the season, we carry on with our various events and actions.
We are very happy that we had many visitors at our Open Door Days in June. Despite the excellent weather, which was an invitation to spend the time at the seaside or in the Ardennes, we managed to rehome 18 animals (both dogs and cats).
We have kept in touch with them and all are delighted in their new homes.
Every year we receive statistics (from the Federal Public Service, Public Health, Service on Animal Well-being) on the number of dogs and cats in shelters. This data is provided by all shelters in Belgium. The trend is clear: the number of dogs continues to slowly decrease, but the number of cats keeps steadily increasing.
For years now, using all possible means, we impress on cat owners the importance of having their cat sterilised as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, the result is obvious: "thousands of kitten are still being born and end up at shelters. Is it negligence...or is it just "nature"... or is it because some vets still claim that a litter of kitten is good for the cat .... or is it because the sterilisation of a tomcat costs 50 € and 100 € for that of a female cat (in general)" ?
A table produced by GAIA illustrates very well this exponential situation which has become uncontrollable !   (Magazine on page nr 2)
So, once again, we need to work together to convince those irresponsible people who think of their cat, and not of the thousands of kitten who will find themselves in shelters and who will die by a vet's injection !
The "Animal Well-being" cell of the Federal Public Service (FPS) for Public Health has come up with a sterilisation plan for cats with the aim of reducing their large numbers. This plan is, however, only a draft at this stage to be implemented over several years from 2011 to 2016 and in 6 stages.
The first stages will be aimed at shelters who will necessarily have to sterilise all cats entering the shelter. At Help Animals we have already been doing this for years for all cats aged 5 months and above. As to kitten, the adopting party immediately pay for their sterilisation. When the time has come, this can be done at the shelter and by appointment. At a later stage, the plan will apply to commercial breeders. Finally, all advertisement for the sale of cats will be prohibited.
We stand 100% behind GAIA's campaign because we are aware of just how difficult it is to pass a law concerning "animal welfare" !

In our magazine you will find a loose leaf PETITION to be signed by a maximum number of animal lovers. You can ask us for photocopies or download them from  http://www.gaia.be/fra/downloads/GAIA-petition-sterilisation-chats.pdf

It is most urgent to limit the number of kitten born. They end up abandoned in fields where they reproduce again and become feral, often carrying contagious diseases, or end up at shelters where they are euthanised!
In addition to this campaign, that we are as heavily invested in as possible, we will be both at the Food Fair and the Zenith Fair like every year.

Please also see on page 17 all the future events that we have scheduled for you in the hope of seeing you there.
Knowing that you always feel concerned by animal suffering, we count on your help. We need you and your moral support.
See you soon,

Liliane LAMBEAU