As you know, we have always advocated CNRM (Care-Neuter-Return-Manage) since Day One. And from our experience over these 13-plus years, it is quite rare to find caregivers who actually carry out CNRM to the letter. In the initial years when we did not have strict policies, we funded anyone who got an animal neutered, but we soon learnt that this led to the sad abuse of funds. There were cases of dishonesty and greed. So we tightened our policies (many thanks to a friend who helped out in a very big way) and insisted on the C=Care component whereby applicants had to provide updates on all previously-claimed animals. This was one of the ways to ensure that the neutered animals were still being cared for and not simply released to fend for themselves.
While a lot of people argue that getting an animal neutered (and not cared for after that) is still better than not getting the animal neutered at all, releasing the animal without any follow-up care makes the whole project unsustainable. The animal would still have to scavenge for food and is subject to all the dangers and risks from the street, including capture by the authorities.
Those who rescue and adopt are also doing a good job, but again, how many can one adopt into one’s home? Adopting is creating a vacuum on the street and allowing new unneutered animals to move in. While we still help those who rescue and adopt, but the number should be limited to a sustainable one in one’s own home. Once any animal is confined in our home, she is totally at our mercy for her wellbeing. Besides shelter, there is also food and medical care to think about, hence, adopting an animal is a huge responsibility.
Hence, the best way to control street population is still by doing CNRM, ie. returning them to the (safe) colony and managing them on the long term. It is a huge undertaking because to ensure their safety on the street is much harder than doing it when they are confined in our home. Also, CNRM means the caregivers continues feeding them and caring for them for life. All this requires a lot of effort and finances.
So, whenever we encounter a caregiver who truly and genuinely practises CNRM where the neutered animals are still being cared for, we would like to help this caregiver as much as we can.
In recent months, we have been helping Ms Tong Yut Fun and Mr Wong Woi Kan in their CNRM efforts.
So far, Ms Tong has claimed for a total of 26 dogs, this being the latest: https://animalcare.my/2022/10/15/neutering-aid-for-2-dogs-in-balakong-tong-yut-funs-updates-7/
You will notice from the post that Ms Tong provides all details pertaining to each rescue and there are updates on all the previously-claimed dogs. Sometimes, the dogs have other medical problems like TVT and hernia and Ms Tong gets them treated and pays for fostering until recovery. Sometimes mother-dogs and a whole litter of puppies are rescued and Ms Tong also pays for fostering for the puppies. Then, there is also the cost of food for all the dogs.
In our recent conversation with Ms Tong, she shares how they do their CNRM work:
Ms Tong and Mr Wong are covering a rather large area with a large number of dogs. She has given us the exact locations and numbers which we will definitely keep confidential to protect the dogs.
Since there are still many more dogs to go in this large colony, we are organising this special fundraising to help with the neutering as much as we can. Our long-time donor and friend, Ms Jasmine Ee, has graciously agreed to help out with an additional donation for each dog so far. The vet to whom Ms Tong sends the dogs charges RM200 for neutering a female and there are additional boarding charges because the dog needs a few days to recuperate from the surgery. If the dog has other underlying medical problems, she will also be treated accordingly and all these are itemised in the bill that we receive.
If you would like to donate to help these dogs in Balakong, kindly state that it is for the Balakong Dogs and we will channel your donation specifically for these dogs. We thank you so much.
Truth be told, dogs actually have a much harder life than cats in our country.
Thank you so much for your compassion.
These photos are from our file, received in July 2022.