(CN-HKG) Starving-dogs find leads to warning on shelters

[Guest guest]

South China Morning Post

http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZ0F9Z6SGE.html

Friday, February 3, 2006

 

by CHANDRA WONG

 

A malnourished dog cowers in a kennel at the Tai Po shelter where 23

dogs were found starving, lacking health care and living in squalid

conditions. Picture by Dominic Nahr

 

Animal-lovers intending to start charity dog shelters have been urged

to ensure they first have money, long-term planning and good faith

after dozens of strays in one facility were found near starvation.

 

The Tai Po shelter, near Lam Tsuen, houses 23 cross-bred dogs in a

run-down rented 3,000 sq ft warehouse.

 

Most of the animals suffered from malnutrition, and the shelter

operators had not been seen for over two weeks.

 

A volunteer at the centre, who identified himself as Sam, said the

operator, who is in his 40s, has repeatedly told him that his health,

family and financial status would not allow him to continue the

charity project. The man had suggested putting down all the dogs.

 

Sam said more than 10 dogs had died in the past year from diseases.

The owner only fed the dogs 16kg of food every three days, and gave

no proper health care.

 

Peter Yim, executive director of Love Pet Action, which is now

offering aid to the shelter, believed the dogs would be better off on

their own.

 

" To live in such a horrible environment, they are better off being

abandoned on the streets, " Mr Yim said.

 

" Some owners think so long as the dogs are fed twice daily, then

that's OK, but they forget other basics like medical care and

hygiene. "

 

No official figure is available on the number of charity dog

shelters, but Mr Yim estimated there were more than 100.

 

 

Other than the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department,

those unable or unwilling to care for their dogs can turn to two

organisation - the Society for Abandoned Animals (SAA) and Society

for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

 

However, these groups have no capacity to adopt abandoned dogs. A

spokeswoman for the SPCA said: " [shelter owners] act in good faith

and don't mean to hurt the dogs. But without thorough planning and

sufficient financial sources, running such shelters will easily put

their lives in danger. "

 

A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation

Department said there were no regulations controlling the operations

of private charity dog shelters so long as the animals were licensed,

vaccinated and had microchips implanted.

 

The department would act on complaints if dogs were treated

inhumanely.