You have encountered animals foraging on dumpsites, not once, not twice. These animals are there, not because they like feeding on rotting debris, but because they have been denied one freedom; Freedom from hunger and thirst.
Neglection
When you do not feed and water your animal with the correct requirements, they end up roaming in the streets, markets and cities to look for any signs of food and water to quench their thirst.
Due to the hunger and thirst they have been subjected to, they will end up feeding on anything possible from plastics and fabric, and later drink from running sewages or stagnant waters as a result of rains.
Adverse effects
What the animals feed on, from the open dumpsites could have very negative effects on their health.
Such include:
- Blockage of their digestive systems
- Blocking of their nasal passage
- Choking which can easily lead to death
- Difficulties passing excrete
- Infection of their internal organs due to feeding on debris with harmful bacteria
Taking care of their welfare
Harmful effects as such could be avoided by ensuring that your animals are well fed and given clean water to drink. By doing so, you will be practising proper animal welfare.
Also, Despite the animals having the freedom to express natural behavior, we should always ensure that we restrict their movements, so they dont end up in the streets.
As humans, we should also practise responsible disposal of waste, so as to avoid animals feeding on dirt and rubbish.
World Animal Protection, has been at the fore front in sensitizing the public on the adverse effects that inorganic waste and rotten debris can have on our animals and we hope to see these practices of animals feeding on dumpsites due to neglection diminish.
