When the earthquake occured in Szechuan, efforts were made to rescue the pandas.
When the bush fires happened in Australia, efforts were made to save the koalas.
Now, an earthquake has happened in Haiti, causing massive destruction and suffering to humans and animals. I read that some efforts are being directed to help the stray dogs in Haiti.
While it is absolutely right that we should take care of our own backyard – there are hundreds (maybe even thousands) of stray dogs and cats in our own neighbourhood who need medical help and more importantly, need to be spayed-neutered, and we are already doing this, almost on a daily basis by providing our panel vets and our funds, it is good to also learn what is going on elsewhere.
Every day, the animals in our local pounds are suffering.
Please help them, by letting the authorities know that there are more compassionate ways of dealing with the stray colony – Spay and neuter, NOT KILL.
There is power in numbers.
Here’s what our neighbouring countries do for the strays: http://animalcare.my/2010/01/thus-have-i-heard_16.html
(It’s not very far away – just Thailand, Bali, Singapore and India).
We have a stray animal problem in our community. As long as the strays are not spayed and neutered, this problem will never be solved. The authorities only know how to capture and kill. They don’t seem to want to recognise that killing is not only wrong, but also does not solve the problem.
As an individual who is sympathetic to this problem, what can you do?
Here are some suggestions:
1. Protect the stray animals – give them food and most importantly, shelter. Do not let them be caught by the authorities.
2. Talk to people. Urge people to be more animal-friendly. The authorities usually only act on complaints by the public. However, now, catching stray dogs seems to have become a “money-making opportunity” where monetary incentives are given to dogcatchers to bring in the strays – this is very wrong.
3. Urge people not to abandon their pets. It is irresponsible, merciless and downright cruel.
4. Participate in our CNRM (Care-Neuter-Rehome/Return-Manage). We have the vets and the funds. You bring in the animals. Our vets are located in Subang Jaya, Puchong, Sri Petaling and Klang. Copy our model and start your own small group elsewhere.
5. Collectively urge your local councils to stop the killing. Start small, within your own area, then spread the message to others that killing is wrong. Do not compromise on this. KILLING IS ALWAYS WRONG. Killing does not and cannot solve the problem.
If we do not initiate and institute change, change will not happen.
There would be no progress.
The animals will continue to suffer.
Lobby for change, please.
And BE that change.