I received a call this morning from rescuer Ai Ney, asking me what to do with a family of dogs and puppies she had spotted in the parking area beside the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association.
I told her if she cannot rehome them, the next best thing is to feed them and manage the colony that way.
Ai Ney also asked if I could go take a look later.
So, after work I drove over, and after scouring the entire area, I did not spot any family of dogs.
The parking area
No doggies behind this rubbish heap
I looked further down the slope and saw that there were some squatter shacks in that area. I did not intrude into this area as that would be infringing into the privacy of the inhabitants.
So I text Ai Ney and said I would be going home. It’s been a very long day at work today, the traffic jam was madness, and I needed to feed Suki too.
Ai Ney was already on her way to the place when I text her.
When she arrived, she called saying that she found the two parent-dogs in the squatter area, and she also heard the yelping of puppies. Looks like this family is intact – mother- and father-dog are around. And Ai Ney said they looked well-fed too.
That being the case, I think perhaps they are being fed and cared for by the inhabitants of the shacks.
So, when we see a family of strays, what should we do?
Well, there are only two things we can do:
First option – Rehome them, if your gut feeling tells you this is the better option for them. (May not work with cats, though.) Again, it isn’t easy to find good homes.
Second option – Leave them where they are and practise CNRM.
C = Care for them by feeding them and taking them to the vet when they are sick
N = Get the adults neutered.
R = Return them to the colony, if you cannot rehome.
M = Continue looking after them for as long as you can.
If you’ve been doing rescue-adopt work long enough, you’d agree it isn’t easy to find GOOD homes for strays. Sometimes, the owners do not look after the pets, and it really breaks your heart. And you’d think perhaps the animals could have been better off being left where they are, though they are subject to the Laws of Nature and the Laws of Anti-Nature (with vehicles as the most dangerous “predators”, and cruel humans next in line).
But that’s life, and until we have sanctuaries (not shelters), that’s the best we can do for them.
Even with sanctuaries, CNRM is still the long-term solution to the stray population.
P.S. In the past, I have also received calls telling me there are strays in such and such a place, and that if I don’t rescue them, they will surely die (my husband says that’s actually “emotional blackmail”). I understand the good intentions of the caller, but I hope people would also understand that rescuers can only take in so many strays. Most rescuers do not have a sanctuary, we only manage within our own household (and cope with our neighbours who may not be very sympathetic, at times). So shall we all work together in doing our best to rehome the animals, please? Otherwise, we manage the colony.
Comments
One response to “Where have all the doggies gone?”
Hi Dr Chan, I agree to your CNRM totally. My dad, little sister and I are animal lovers and have picked up many stray and turn them to our pets, as well as taking strays to vets and neuter them. Most time (like adult dogs) it would do more good than harm to let them back to where we found them, especially those who have established their 'routine', knows where to find food and shelter. That's why there are cases you have those "free spirited ones" who will runaway from their new home… as the street is their home. However, there are some that are lost, and if one looks closely, looking for a home. Once they found one and being loved, you will never forget the look they give you everytime when you touch them… total gratitute and unconditional love.