Some interesting bedtime reading materials which I came across in my email.
Voice for the animals
Malay Mail March 16, 2009 Mon
GOOD news for all animal lovers. The Selangor State government has started taking steps to stop animal cruelty at local councils.
For many years, animal lovers and NGOs, such as Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), have been calling for tighter guidelines and regulations to prevent local council contractors employed to catch dogs from abusing their powers.
Subang Jaya State assemblyman Hannah Yeoh, accompanied by SPCA chairman Christine Chin, made the well received announcement at her service centre in SS14, Subang Jaya yesterday.
“I have informed the State Assembly about what’s going on and the response was good.
State Executive Councillor for Local Government, Study and Research Committee Ronnie Liu assured me he would take necessary action to stop animal cruelty,” said Yeoh.
“For starters, Liu said a contractor employed to catch stray dogs by one particular local council cannot be employed by other councils.
Prior to this, one company will be hired by several local councils. This led to contractors to ‘reuse’ dogs that are captured,” she added.
“Secondly, Liu is open to the idea of having someone from SPCA to sit on the council committee in charge of animal control.”
It has been alleged that some contractors have been charging several local councils for dogs caught in one area.
“In one case, the council overpaid the contractors RM70,000. After investigations, it was learnt that the dogs were not caught in their area,” said Chin.
She, however, declined to name the local council that was defrauded.
The SPCA representative will monitor and advise the committee on animal rights and welfare. Besides that, the representative will ensure that animals are not illtreated by contractors.
Also, the representative will make sure the guidelines on catching and exterminating stray dogs as set out by the Department of Veterinary Services is followed.
On March 6, Malay Mail highlighted the issue with pictures showing captured dogs placed in vehicles with no cages to separate them as stipulated in the May 2008 Department of Veterinary Services’ (DVS) Guidelines on Catching and Exterminating Stray Dogs.
The three councils said to be practising this method of stray management were Ampang Jaya, Klang and Kajang municipal councils.
In the report, it was also stated that the Klang Municipal Council still used wire to snare strays, which cuts into the throats and bodies of the animals causing a slow and painful death.
--- On Wed, 3/18/09, Elaine Foster <theloudgirl@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 11:43 AM
Excellent news. A real step forward.
On Sun, 3/22/09,
shobamano@yahoo.com <shobamano@yahoo.com> wrote:
Date: Sunday, March 22, 2009, 8:42 AM
I'm sorry, but why is this excellent news? When TV3 exposed the Setapak pound for animal abuse, drowning cats and bashing dogs to death, what did SPCA do? Its Klinik Kembiri has been on the same premises of this pound for years. Sharing the same premises and they don't even know this abuse has been going on for years?
I have heard so many complaints about SPCA from the public. What Furry Friends Farm and Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better and other independent rescuers have done in just a few months far exceeds what SPCA has done in 50 years.
How can they monitor others when they were quiet about the Setapak pounds abuses and how can they say they didn't know when Klinik Kembiri shares the same place? Members of the public who don't live or work on the same premises can complain to TV3 but Klinik Kembiri didn't know?
It is the independent animal rescuers, Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better and Sabrina Yeap from Furry Friends Farm who are the genuine animal lovers who should be called to act as watchdogs over the councils and even DVS. They have pushed for laws to regulate breeders, pet shops and when the govt turns a blind eye they have even bravely confronted these people and tried to educate them personally! It is not always pleasant and many times they have to be patient and reason amicabally with people who have no compassion whatsoever.
They have experience on the streets and many times paid out of their own pockets for medical attention and housing strays in their own homes. They are the faces of the public who have acted on genuine compassion and truly understand what are the shortcomings of this society and government.
Above all, they have given all of us what SPCA has not done in 50 years - Education! The amount of awareness they have raised through the media, through their campaigns, their blogs, websites, their re-homing and adoption drives online and offline, have converted an apathetic public into a pro-active public that are finally doing something, however small, and not waiting for the government to make the change.
It is education that will stop the never ending influx of homeless animals on the streets.
The independent rescuers are the ones who should be the watchdog/monitor.
Shoba Mano
The Remembering Sheena Campaign
www.remembersheena.blogspot.com
SWEET DREAMS!!!!
!!!!
!!!!
!!!!
!!!!