By Maimuna Sey-Jawo
The Animal Welfare Advocate at the University of The Gambia and the Gambia College with support from the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust and other partners has on Monday celebrated World Animal Welfare Day at an event held at a local hotel in Kotu.
In his speech, the coordinator of VET unit at the University of The Gambia, Dr. Kebba Daffeh said the objective of the celebration is to raise awareness in the Gambia about the welfare of animals as it is very important.
He said World Animal Welfare Day is celebrated worldwide and is a day set aside to reflect on the importance and the welfare of animals in our daily life and to reflect on the diversity of different species of animals that exist in the world.
According to Dr. Daffeh, animals should be given the right treatment they deserve from people as they are aware of their environment, surrounding and they can register positive and negative emotion.
He called upon Gambia to treat their Animal freely and fairly as they also need proper care and protection, noting that they are also very important in our daily lives activities.
He noted the main challenges they are facing is lack of awareness about welfare of animals to the people. He called upon institutions, individuals, organisation or any other to support them in this move as they cannot do it alone.
The Public Relation officer of The University Animal welfare Kady Kanagi said the main objective of this organisation is to encourage people to have sympathy for Animal, adding that Animals welfare is a new thing in the Gambia as people in The Gambia where not update about Animal welfare before.
She therefore assured their commitment to continue fighting for the welfare of Animal in the Gambia and called upon all to join the move.
The General Manager of Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust Lamin Barba Ceesay also spoke at length on the important of Animal welfare, noting it that it important cannot be over emphasis as they provide food for, shelter, income and many other means.
Therefore, he added give animal due consideration and care is highly necessary in to support their long living, hygiene and protection.
