VICTORIA, Seychelles — More than one hundred pet owners brought their animals to a mass sterilisation clinic at the Music Stadium on Saturday, in a joint effort by the non governmental organisation Be Kind Advocate for the Animals and the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment. The clinic was the ninth in a recent series conducted by a team of eight Russian veterinary professionals working in Seychelles. It was also the first time the campaign was held at the Music Stadium, with previous sessions hosted at other venues around the country.
The Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment, Flavien Joubert, visited the site on Saturday to express support for the veterinarians leading the initiative. He said the turnout was a good sign of public interest in animal welfare, and he praised pet owners for taking practical steps to support the ministry’s strategic aim of reducing the stray animal population. The Minister used the visit to underline the ministry’s commitment to keeping the campaign going, even as human, financial, and logistical constraints persist.
While the clinic had initially booked 97 appointments, several walk-ins were also accommodated. The Russian team leader, Svetlana Broussova, urged pet owners to take fuller responsibility for their animals’ wellbeing, and pointed to common issues such as a lack of grooming, fleas, and untreated health problems. She also appealed to owners to stop abandoning kittens and dogs in the forest or in rubbish bins, and to make use of the shelter and care services offered by the SSPCA.
The chairperson of Be Kind, Nicole St Ange, echoed the appeal and commended the Russian team for the quality of their work, particularly given that the conditions under which they were operating were starkly different from those they were used to back home. She added that, while logistical and financial challenges remained, the organisation hoped to hold sterilisation clinics every two months. The campaign is presently supported by private entities and volunteers.
The Minister also used the occasion to highlight the severe shortage of veterinary professionals in Seychelles, which he said continued to make the delivery of a quality and accessible service difficult. A small pool of local veterinarians from the department of Agriculture, as well as volunteers, assisted the Russian team throughout the day. The event was broadcast live on the Pure 907 radio platform.
