I put up this posting on Oct 27th: http://animalcare.my/2009/10/sos-for-chow-chow.html
Just to recap, a staff at the local animal shelter had called me asking me to help this Chow Chow with an ear infection or else he would be euthanised. I assured her I would help raise funds and asked for an estimate for the cost of the treatment required.
The shelter then sent the Chow Chow to a vet in Bangsar, and I was told surgery was performed on him.
http://animalcare.my/2009/10/chows-surgery-went-well.html
I was then told by this staff that the cost for the first week was RM800. I was also told that they had found a sponsor who would foot half the bill for the first week. I pledged to raise money to pay the balance of RM400. As you can see from the links above, I have also asked everyone to help look for an adopter for the Chow Chow.
That much we have done. We are not a shelter and have never promised anyone we can definitely rehome any animal. We can only help “advertise” and look for adopters.
After that, I had not received any updates at all about the Chow Chow from the staff at the shelter.
Today, I decided to make a trip down to Bangsar to find out what is happening.
Here’s what I found out from the vet on duty:
1. No surgery had been done. The Chow Chow only needed a few rounds of wound cleaning under sedation. This has been done and he can already be discharged now.
2. I went down to pay the RM400 as promised, but the senior vet was not around and he had not prepared any bill. So, I could not settle any payment. I asked for the cost so far, but the vet on duty could not update me on this. I was also told that there is normally a discount for shelter animals. Currently, there are two other animals being treated at the vet’s, they are from the same shelter.
I then called the staff at the shelter, and udpated her on this. I wanted to know why I was told about a surgery when none had been performed. And I also wanted to know why the dog was still being boarded when he could already be discharged.
Her response to this update was quite shocking and highly disappointing, to say the least.
To cut a long story short, she did not visit the dog at all and did not really know what treatment had been performed. As to why the dog is still being boarded, she said the dog cannot be sent back to the shelter because he would be put down.
Then, I was told that if I did not rehome this dog, he would be put down. Suddenly, I am now thrust with the responsibility of rehoming this dog. When I said I do not have the resources to rehome this dog, but have already put a posting asking for adopters, I was accused of not caring for a life. She even said that if I could rehome Abby, the 13 year-old, why couldn’t I rehome this Chow Chow?
“You want to be a killer?”, she shot at me.
I think the above is highly unfair, presumptious and quite unprofessional. It is emotional blackmailing. I am very disappointed with such remarks, coming from a staff at the shelter. It is their dog, which they could not treat or rehome, and I was asked to help, which I did. And now, just because I have not been able to find an adopter for the dog, I am accused of being a “killer”?
And further to that, I was blamed for rehoming the Ketam dogs to Bentong, now that they are thin and roaming freely on the farm (but the shelter was going to euthanise the dogs). It is easy to point a finger to blame others now that things do not seem to have worked out the way they want it to. But didn’t they also rehome two batches of their own dogs in Bentong after that? If they were not happy with Bentong, why did they rehome their own dogs there?
I had said right from the start that Bentong was a last-dish option. It was between euthanasia and living out their natural lives on the farm. I chose the lesser of the two evils. I take full responsibility for the first batch of dogs we rehomed in Bentong, and that is why we make monthly visits and supply them with food. They have to live out their natural lives now – that was the best we could do at that time. Life is not perfect, don’t we all know this?
After a barrage of accusations from this person, I was told to keep the money and that she does not need our help anymore with the payment. Strange, then, why ask us for help in the first place?
So, I guess that’s that for now. The Chow Chow is their dog and their responsibility. They asked for help, we offered, and I am prepared to honour the RM400 (half the cost of the first week) that we have pledged for the sake of the dog, but now I have been told to “keep your money”, along with all the scathing remarks.
The lesson that I’ve learnt from this incident is that it is best NOT to work with established organisations. They have their own funds and their own resources for their shelter animals. After all, they are so much bigger than us, and they definitely have more supporters than us.
We certainly do not need such human-created problems. Not only is our good intentions and efforts not appreciated, I’ve had to endure hurtful and offensive remarks as well.
On hindsight, it may be a blessing in disguise that this happened. I view it as a reminder for us to keep to our mission of helping small-time rescuers and their animals. The big-timers can take care of themselves.
AnimalCare was set up to help individual rescuers in the spaying and neutering of stray animals and we ought to keep to that. Inevitably, we are being asked to help in medical treatments. surgeries and rehoming – it comes with the line of work, but after this experience, we will focus on helping individual rescuers.
Meanwhile, if you’d like to adopt this Chow Chow, please contact me at chankahyein@gmail.com and I will direct you to the shelter.
Comments
8 responses to “Visiting the Chow Chow”
Shocking turn of events…i guess it just goes to show that it's easy for some people to take advantage of good intentions.
I'm sure you are not discouraged by events like this but know that you have the support of many.Keep up the good work!
I don't know whether to cry, scream, or both. This poor, old, noble dog is — like the Pulau Ketam dogs — getting caught up in the nasty emotions of humans. As someone who works in a shelter, I would think this woman would understand how difficult it is to find homes for dogs, never mind elderly, ailing ones! Does she think you can just snap your fingers and make it happen? Why on earth is she attacking you as if you are working at cross-purposes?! I've decided now. I think I'll scream. 🙁
It is highly unethical for this person to accuse you of being a "killer" just because you cannot guarantee to find an adopter for the Chow Chow. Wow, that's an extremely strong word.
Knowing you, I think you would do your utmost best to find an adopter for the Chow Chow. She is merely taking advantage of your kindness to find a home for the Chow Chow. I am sure this person from the shelter has far more contacts than you to find a home for the Chow Chow.
She is so ungrateful to you and AnimalCare for the support that you have been giving to that shelter. She has probably forgotten that you found a home for those Pulau Ketam dogs.
Dont be disheartened by her. We are all supporting you.
And if she doesnt want to accept the RM400 that AnimalCare has pledged to Chow Chow, keep it and use it for other animals in need.
Dear Anonymous, I'm afraid you might not have read my posting. This staff from the shelter is now blaming us for rehoming the Ketam dogs in Bentong. She says she is very unhappy that the dogs are roaming free (hence, cannot be tracked down during our visits) and thinner than they were while at the shelter.
I have said many times that between euthanasia and rehoming at Bentong (where the dogs have to become vegetarian and live out their natural lives), I chose the lesser of the two evils. The shelter was going to euthanise them after we funded their medical treatment, for goodness' sake.
Now, she is saying I do not care about the Ketam dogs, but aren't we already supplying food up there on a monthly basis? What else CAN we do? Catch them, and do what with them?
I'm already asking a vet to recommend a vitamin supplement for the dogs. Aren't we already doing all that we can?
And my question is this – if the shelter is so unhappy with Bentong, why did they send two batches of dogs up there themselves? And now, complain?
Pointing fingers and putting the blame on others is a very convenient and immature response, which is not beneficial to anyone. I hope I do not have to work with such people again.
I prefer to put our heads together and work out a solution.
Dear KahYein,
I have been following your blog daily and I have read several of your past postings that AnimalCare has been going to Bentong regularly to supply food to the dogs. This action itself shows that AnimalCare cares for the Pulau Ketam dogs.
I hate to think what would have happened to those Pulau Ketam dogs if you hadnt made the effort to rehome them at the Liberation Park in Bentong.
What is wrong with the dogs roaming free inside the Liberation Park? Dogs, like human beings, love to be roaming free. I dont think they had this privilege when they were caged at the shelter.
If I am one of the dogs, I wouldnt mind losing weight now than losing my life!! And I think, the weight loss problem is a temporary one. It will take time for the dogs to adjust themselves to vegetarian diet.
This lady at the shelter seems to be very ungrateful by accusing you of not caring for the Pulau Ketam dogs. We know what you have done for those dogs and we know you care for them a lot.
You have our greatest respect and support.
Warmest regards
Why do humans create so much problems on to each other when the ultimate objective is to save the animals?
This woman has the nerve to call you a "killer" when you have never had any animal put down before? Their shelter puts animals to sleep on a regular basis, and now she is instructing the vet to put down this Chow Chow.
WHO is the killer?
Ignore her, Kah Yein. You have our support in everything you do. There are many more animals out there that need your help.
Hah! A staff of this shelter called you a "killer" when they kill …. perfectly healthy lives per day under the guise of humane euthanasia? What the heck, Kahyein, they called me a "dog" when I suggested they conduct Community Adult Education Awareness programs to inculcate tolerance and compassion towards strays in residential areas and that TNR is the effective solution to killing as practised by their modern and forward looking counterparts overseas like in HK, SF, etc. Heck, Kahyein, a member of the animal cruelty prevention organisation used the word "dog" in a derogatory manner!