(MY) island dogs

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Malay Mail - 18th May 2009 28 Death Island dogs rescued… but where is

council's promised help?

No let-up on saving dogs abandoned on islands off Pulau Ketam

Nevash Nair <http://www.mmail.com.my/source/nevash-nair>

Thursday, May 14th, 2009 04:37:00

[image: spca] <http://www.mmail.com.my/content/spca-0>

 

SAVE D: SPCA workers rescuing a dog at the Selat Kering island yesterday

AS of yesterday, a total of 28 stray dogs have been rescued by several

non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from islands surrounding Pulau Ketam.

 

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Furry

Friends Farm (FFF) rescued 13 and 15 dogs respectively, and the rescue

mission continues today.

 

SPCA public relations officer Jacinta Johnson said the rescue mission is on

course and it was a good start for all NGOs to work together.

 

“We have sent all the canines caught to our resident veterinary clinic near

our office. The dogs will be checked and medicated accordingly.

 

“We have also found foster homes for two dogs and an adopter for one. But we

will only give the dogs away after they are treated. We are also looking for

more people to take these dogs in,” she added.

 

When asked about the feeding programme for the dogs, Johnson said: “The

programme is going well. We are feeding the dogs on a regular basis and the

days we do not go to the island, we pay the fishermen to feed the dogs.

 

“We are also happy that we are getting a chance to work together with other

bodies on this matter, as we all are championing the same cause.”

 

FFF legal adviser Shalinee Fernandez echoed Johnson’s comments but was not

pleased with the lack of commitment shown by the Klang Municipal Council.

 

“On Monday, it was decided that FFF and the council would work together to

trap the dogs on the island, but all calls to the council were unsuccessful.

They have not contacted us since the meeting and we were unable to get in

touch with them either. This is absurd,” Fernandez said.

 

“We want the council to provide us with boats and dog catchers to make the

rescue mission easier and more cost-efficient. But they are not being

helpful at all.

 

“We will continue championing our cause with or without the help from the

council.”

 

Last week, it was reported that stray dogs were left to fend for themselves

on the uninhabited islands of Pulau Selat Kering and Pulau Tengah. The dogs

have resorted to eating each other to survive.

 

On Monday, a joint meeting chaired by the Klang council brought together

animal activists, members of the public and NGOs to plan an immediate

solution for the dogs.

 

It was decided that the SPCA be put in charge of the feeding