Tanja Koski faces urgent situation with rising number of animals in need at Kuuralla in Kokemäki

Tanja Koski, responsible for animal care and welfare at the Animal Protection Association Kuuralla in Kokemäki, is facing an urgent situation. This year, the organization has received 120 hedgehogs, birds, and squirrels in need of assistance. Starting in 2024, reporting the care of wild animals will be mandatory, enabling authorities to better monitor the quality of care and ensure that animals are in capable hands.

In practice, especially among smaller animal protection associations, animals may be given to foster homes. Caregivers are required to register with the regional government office. Koski notes the challenge of knowing who among the caregivers has registered, emphasizing the need to request this information from the Food Authority’s registration office.

A key issue is the lack of public information on caregivers, which complicates the timely transfer of animals to care with short-distance transportation. Koski highlights the goal of providing quick and effective care to prevent unnecessary pain and suffering for the animals.

Tea Ahtelo, a veterinarian from the Southwest Finland regional government office, acknowledges the difficulty in accessing a public register of caregivers. Those caring for wild animals must be registered animal keepers. One potential solution is for registered animal protection associations to share their information while ensuring that proper oversight is maintained.

In Turku, the local animal protection association employs volunteers who care for animals on-site, which includes feeding and cleaning. Director Sari Pesonen emphasizes the importance of ensuring that animals are properly rehabilitated for release into the wild. Volunteers can play a vital role in this process even after the animals have returned to their natural habitat, assisting by providing care as per the association’s guidelines.