Another hit-and-run

Published on: Saturday, August 28, 2021

By: Dr Roslee bin Haji Abbas

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HElping Animals Rescue Team (Heart)

WE ARE distraught. It is disturbing... the lack of regard for animals these days. They are also a God-given life. If there is a choice, who is willing to wander. But in the eyes of the God-given, they are not abandoned “children”. In this busy Kota Kinabalu city, tens of thousands of stray/homeless animals live.

They live in the world, and perhaps their only appeal is to fill their stomachs and survive!

We really hope that the lives of stray /homeless animals in Kota Kinabalu despite having experienced misery and gloom, they can still shine in this world.

Life as a stray dog is fraught with peril. Ignored by society and cast aside like yesterday’s trash, stray dogs are forced to rely on their ingenuity and tenacity if they are to survive. And even then it is often not enough.

Take Bashir for example. Living on the streets of Likas, this doggo was well aware of what it took to scrape together a meagre life.

Rummaging through trash cans and drinking out of filthy puddles are staples of stray dog life, and Bashir was no stranger to dumpster diving for dinner. That is, until that fateful day.

While crossing a busy road to scope out a new dumpster, Bashir was struck by a speeding car.

The car screeched away, leaving the poor, injured stray to fend for himself. However, the damage done to Bashir by the reckless driver put his survival in jeopardy.

On August 22, Heart received a distressed call from a concerned animal lover, Ashar, about a hit- and- run accident in Likas and immediately took action.

We rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. Upon initial approach we believed the dog was dead until we noticed very shallow breathing. The dog couldn’t move both its hind legs, so we scooped him up and carried him into the car.

According to witnesses (Ashar and Ishak), the dog Bashir had been wandering the streets unaccompanied when a car hit him.

To make matters worse, the heartless driver didn’t stop. Instead, he left the dog to die by the road side. The distraught dog Bashir frantically attempted to drag it’s legs along the Tarmac as motorists were forced swerve. He managed to drag himself to safety and landed on the grass and collapsed.

The dog in fact was alive and laying lifeless on a grass patch under the searing heat of the sun near the sidewalk. It was 95 degrees outside. We could feel the intense heat. The dog aptly named “Bashir”, had been hit by a car and left to die. A light motor vehicle (SAB4*2*F) ran over the homeless dog. This incident was witnessed by Ashar and Ishak, passers-by, who immediately informed Heart. They tried to stop the driver, but he sped away.

The dog was in shock from the impact and trauma of the hit. During transport to the emergency animal clinic, the dog slowly began waking up and began whelping in pain.

The dog received X-rays that revealed issues with his spine. Bashir also suffered from multiple pelvic fractures and leg, degloving injury of the neck, several gashes and road rash. Within hours, he was getting veterinarian care.

The clinic medical team did all that they could, stabilising his spine and saving his life.

The dog underwent a three-hour surgery to repair his fractured pelvis and restore his mobility.

Fortunately, the helpful vets were able to do their best to fix him. He will need a lengthy hospital stay. Life was saved, but Bashir’s future is uncertain. But we’re hoping for a happy ending. Considering everything he went through, he is such a good boy. He will be sent to stay at our foster home after discharged while he recovers.

Heart is currently overwhelmed with medical bills but could not leave the dog laying on the grass to die a slow death. We had to follow our hearts so we decided regardless of the financial burden we could not give up yet!

Every act of your kindness is their hope for survival! If you would like to donate towards the dog Bashir and our ongoing animal rescue efforts and feeding the strays/homeless please donate to this account:

CIMB BANK BERHAD

Account no.

70 3762569 4

ROSLI @ ROSLEE BIN ABBAS

DONATE - BASHIR

We receive no government funding and rely on the support and kindness from our community, private donations and charity bazaar to complete our mission.

Heart does not euthanise animals to make space to house others. We are a no-kill animal welfare group and work to preserve life whenever possible.

We rely on donations from people like you who are willing to spend their hard-earned money to help animals in dire needs.

And every ringgit helps! Thank you in advance for your generous, big and small (and no donation is too small).

Have a heart. Donate.