(MY) error - re-sending for adoption and cruelty case

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Wednesday September 27, 2006-The Star

 

130 animals up for adoption

 

*By YENG AI CHUN*

 

*C*URLED up and ready for a nap, Betsie suddenly looks up at the approaching

visitors.

 

White as snow except for two patches of black fur at her eyes, the puppy is

adorable and cuddly.

 

Betsie is among the 110 dogs and puppies at SPCA Seberang Prai waiting to be

adopted.

 

Formed last year under the umbrella of SPCA Penang, the shelter was

registered in August last year.

 

" Being under the umbrella of SPCA Penang has made it easier for us to

collect funds, " said SPCA Seberang Prai president Dr Roland Lim.

 

A total of RM50,000 was raised at a food fair and 'swimmingthon' at BM

Country Club in January last year and the money was used to build the pound

and set up the new SPCA branch, he said.

 

He said the centre was now on rented land, adding that his committee planned

to buy a piece of land before the tenancy agreement expires by June next

year.

 

The shelter spends at least RM5,000 a month.

 

Treating, spaying and feeding the 130 dogs and cats costs RM4,000 while the

centre pays RM700 a month for a full-time worker, Dr Roland said.

 

" We run strictly on donations and contributions from well-wishers. We not

only lack funds but also need volunteers to help us care for the animals.

 

" All we have is a worker and our pound manager Tan Kah Chuah, " he said.

 

" The pound was originally built with 33 kennels for 50 dogs but the number

of dogs is increasing each month.

 

" People would just throw the puppies and dogs over the gate (of the

shelter). Please don't do that, you should instead personally surrender the

dogs over to us, " he pleaded.

 

Dr. Lim said those who surrendered a dog would have to pay a surrender fee

of RM80.

 

" This is not expensive. When a dog is taken in, we either spay or neuter it.

This costs between RM180 to RM300 at veterinary clinics but we're only

charging RM80, " he said.

 

The SPCA Seberang Prai is at Lot 621, Jalan Kg Aston, Kampung Besar, Bukit

Merta-jam. Donations should be sent to P.O. Box 134, Bukit Mertajam, and

address the cheques to SPCA Seberang Prai.

 

For details, call Dr Lim at 012-4663737 or Madam Tan at 012-5523447.

 

 

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Wednesday September 27, 2006

 

Cruel treatment of puppies shocks vet

 

CRUELTY to animals has no limit these days.

 

This was evident when a good Samaritan brought seven puppies over to Dr

Roland Lim's clinic in Bukit Mertajam for treatment.

 

Dr Lim, who is the SPCA Seberang Prai president, had a shock when he saw the

puppies had their front right paws and tails amputated,

 

" A very cruel person tied rubber bands around the front right paws and

tails. The rubber band which serves to stop blood circulation at the paws

and tails caused the parts to dry up and drop off.

 

" Some of the puppies were just left with stumps, some had their limbs half

dropping off and you can even see the bones. One puppy had no more flesh at

its paw and bone was sticking out. It's just horrible, " he said.

 

According to Dr Lim, the good Samaritan was driving along Bukit Tengah (on

the Penang mainland) in the morning.

 

" He saw some of the puppies wondering at the roadside and some were in a

box. The puppies were in a lot of pain and some were crying. He then took

the puppies to my clinic for treatment, " he said.

 

Dr Lim said it took him the whole day to treat the puppies.

 

" I had to amputate their front right paws and tails as they could not be

treated. Now the puppies are having a hard time walking because they don't

have their front paws and they have no tails too, " he said.

 

Dr Lim said he who was horrified by the cruelty inflicted on the puppies.

 

" My other clients were around when that man brought the puppies. They too

were shocked to see the condition of the puppies.

 

" They said I must make a complaint to someone about the puppies but my main

aim was to save them, " he explained.

 

" If you cannot take care of animals, bring them to SPCA Seberang Prai. Show

some kindness, have some loving *metta* (compassion, kindness), " he said.

 

After the operations were done, the good Samaritan took the puppies home to

be cared for, he said.

 

The puppies now live with the man in his house on Penang island.