DOGS and cats being dumped or abandoned are now, unfortunately, a sad and common thing in Sabah.
We, animal lovers, cannot imagine why anyone would have the heart to dump a loyal pet who has not dun anything to deserve such a punishment.
How many times do we have to write about this, to ingrain into human minds, that animals have feelings, love, securities and insecurities etc.
Very often we animal lovers start by rescuing one dog/cat and from there it escalates. We cannot stand by to see an animal suffering and ignore its pleas for help! It is helpless and reliant entirely new human kindness and compassion!
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They are unable to speak and can only express themselves with their voices and eyes and actions. If a human being can ignore that appeal, then one cannot be called a human being! Not an animal too as animals are unlike humans. Animals have compassion and love and loyalty etc whereas a human can just abandon or harm an animal without a second thought at all regardless of the pain etc the animal is in! A human’s motto is “as long as I am rid my responsibility who cares?”
An animal rescuer starts with one or two rescues but it can soon escalate to high numbers! Fair recalls Farida Malai VP/SPCA-KK saying that when she first started rescues with her friend Catherine, the rescues were being kept in a small house but soon it became overwhelming as these rescues did not stop. People did not sterilise and did not stop dumping.
However, with sheer determination Farida and Catherine learned to cope and eventually started the SPCA-KK Shelter, and so from a small house it became a whole new project! The SPCA-KK Shelter was born.
Even though SPCA-KK has grown by leaps and bounds, to a large well-managed shelter, unfortunately humans have not learned much. In fact they have gone backwards and become worse! There are still constant, if not more, abuse, dumpings, neglect, cruelty, etc going on.
Fortunately, however, there are also many animal lovers/feeders out there who help in any way they can. They feed the stray dogs and cats, donate food, donate money to buy necessities, to help with sterilising, fostering services, etc to help with this never ending task! It is not easy to stay focussed and resilient but most feeders/rescuers have little choice! It is out of pure love for animals and determination to make life better for these animals
Unfortunately, most times it is also out of pockets for these rescuers/feeders who already spend so much. The government cannot see this problem or refuse to face it, leaving it to the feeders/rescuers! What we need is a government who actually cares, who will step in to help, assist, etc to contribute proactively to this man made problem caused by their own citizens! Animal NGOs want to push for compulsory microchipping for all pets and also a compulsory neutering policy until such time when humans behave better and are more responsible.
Feeders expenses are spent on food, medication and of course neutering and spaying the animals. Farida herself has about 100 animals in her own private shelter which is held together with the support of her dear generous like minded friends. However, we must remember too that without people like her, there will be 100 more animals out there; injured, sick, abused, hungry, scavenging for food!
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Farida herself feeds countless stray cats and dogs besides the ones she has in her small shelter. The strays she feeds are under the TNRM (Trap Neuter Return & Manage) programme whereby a stray is caught and sterilised and returned. She will relocate them where she hopes they will be safe from human harm and abuse. This could be in an abandoned house, under an abandoned truck/car, in some safe bushes where there is protection from weather etc. There are always risks involved; there is no choice as shelters are always full!
People are simply not adopting from shelters; the dumping and abuse becomes overwhelming and putting them to sleep does not solve all practical problems! Animal lovers would like to save and keep all animals safe but it is not possible.
People often question why rescuers/feeders do not pass the animals they rescue to SPCA-KK or other shelters like the Shelter of Hope, Likas Animal Shelter Alir etc. If only it were as simple as that!
Many people, when it comes to owning a pet, want a pedigree if possible. However, these people do not know how expensive and troublesome it is to own a pedigree, not that they are not worth owning!
Pedigrees take a lot of time, and money, need training, need good nourishing food and plenty of exercise and attention. However our local “pedigrees” are also intelligent, cheap to maintain and give us as much joy, love, and loyalty (maybe even more!)
Shelters are brimming with dogs and cats awaiting adoption, their forever safe & secure home, waiting to live the life they all deserve. Until and unless these rescues are adopted safely, there is no more room for new animals. Shelters have limited space and of course limited finances
So make it a point to adopt from shelters. All animals there are neutered/spayed and vaccinated and are in good health. They are living creatures who will make wonderful pets and guard dogs and playful loving cats too. Why spend thousands on a pedigree when you can get the same thing free of charge? Of course, a donation. Would not be turned down!
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Any dog and cat is the same. Love them and they will love you back even more. They will make you laugh, they will add such joy in your life that u will ask yourself why you did not adopt earlier!