Another hit-and-run dog left for dead

Published on: Saturday, November 27, 2021

By: Dr Roslee bin Haji Abbas

Text Size:

HElping Animals Rescue Team (Heart)

THERE is enough tragedy in the human lives lost due to accidents in Sabah’s roads. But there’s little guilt, and no penalties, when it comes to the many stray or homeless dogs and cats that suffer a similar fate.

We believe that as non-humans, this is their fate, or that they deserve less. But whatever the individual attitude, it’s necessary that human societies at large acknowledge such suffering endured by animals as important. Why did they not stop? Are animals lesser beings than humans?

We can understand that many of us think so, but does their needless death not deserve some punishment and penalty? And be prevented?

In Kota Kinabalu alone, about 40 homeless dogs, cats and other animals suffer such accidents every day. Many die painfully on the spot, a few are rescued or taken to a veterinary hospital, and even fewer survive. What we need is a greater responsibility towards this, and to ensure that such drivers don’t speed but treat the pain and suffering they cause with appropriate respect and pay the penalty.

We received a call around 9 p.m. of a homeless dog that had been hit in the area of Hilltop was forced to wait by the side of the road for three days. It wasn’t until one good Samaritan took the initiative to call the Heart Rescue Team that the injured dog had even a sliver of hope. Imagine, no one had bothered to take him to a doctor for three days and he was writhing in agony.

On receiving the message and the location of the incident, we rushed to the spot where the good Samaritan and eyewitness Adam were present. The dog had sustained injuries to its hind leg and was crying in pain so we gave him painkillers. The eyewitness told us that the driver of the vehicle had done this intentionally and this was not the first time.

He had allegedly run over puppies in the past, killing them. Just an intentional act because the vehicle never slowed down and seemed to intentionally swerve into the dog, which was standing on the side of the road and he sped up. The dog was seen twisting in pain.

Adam said the car that hit the dog is Honda City, grey in colour and likely to now have heavy front - end damage. The witness, Adam, says the homeless dogs are like his children, but he couldn’t help to think what might have happened if an actual child had been riding their bicycle.

This area is a kid-friendly street. There are kids and dogs everywhere. We made a police report at the Luyang police station, but are hoping the driver will come forward and do the right thing. He should be filled with guilt and pricks of shame for his callous act. We have named the dog Aldrinn.

Despite giving the dog painkillers, the dog was in tremendous pain. He was rushed to the hospital where x-rays revealed he had a broken femur and crushed pelvis. He will need at least two to three surgeries. According to the veterinarian, they most commonly occur to dogs or cats after they are hit by a vehicle. They can appear as tearing of the Sacroiliac joint, where the wing of the ilium is torn from the sacrum (a Sacroiliac dislocation), or they may present as a fracture to the ilium or ischium (the wings of the pelvis). This may or may not also involve the acetabulum (which is the socket the femur sits within).

The cost to have Aldrinn’s surgeries to repair its the broken leg and the fractures in the pelvis is RM1,800 and greater, depending on the complexity of the fracture and the length of stay at the hospital. We are appealing to the public to come forward and help us with costs for treatment of the dog Aldrinn, as it would require multiple surgeries to save the dog’s life. The dog needs be stabilized before going under the knife.

Aldrinn is a very brave dog - even after going through trauma and almost succumbed to his injuries, he’s displayed incredible resilience, strength and spirit to live.

Heart, police and the Department of Veterinary Services have taken up a case under the Sabah Animal Welfare Enactment 2015 (mischief by killing or maiming) against the driver of the said vehicle who intentionally hit the dog. Animal cruelty is nothing new in Sabah, and it happens even more frequently in recent years.

However, many Sabahans are unaware for a matter of fact (and of law) that animals actually do have rights! And this general lack of awareness is one of the main reasons why animal cruelty happens, or go unreported. Animal rights are found in a legislation called Sabah Animals Welfare Enactment 2015. This enactment extends even to strays, as even the local authorities have to follow guidelines issued by Department of Veterinary Services in exterminating stray animals.

We need to send a message to the public that animal abuse and cruelty should never be tolerated, while more campaigns must be held to create awareness of the issue. Make their lives matter, please. It’s up to you.

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 need. If you would like to help to pay for Aldrinn’s medical and other expenses please send your money to:

CIMB BANK BERHAD

Account no.

70 3762569 4

ROSLI @ ROSLEE BIN ABBAS

DONATE – ALDRINN

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