SPCA Selangor has embarked on a mission to save more unwanted dogs and cats. SYIDA LIZTA AMIRUL IHSAN writes.

IF you have never stepped onto the grounds of the SPCA Animal Home in Ampang Jaya, count yourself lucky.

Because what awaits after the gate is not even for the strongest of hearts. Healthy dogs and cats, hundreds of them, stare at you from crowded cages with hopeful eyes. Hopeful that you may take them home, feed them well and let them sleep on fluffy rugs in return for loyal companionship.

And then, suddenly, the dogs bark at you, all at once. Not the kind of angry barking to chase away intruders, but a milder version of it, as if begging you to take them home. Even those afraid of canines would be moved.

These are no Lassies or Garfields, celluloid pets who seem to have everything, from warmth to love to full tummies. The truth about cats and dogs (and other unwanted pets) is grim and depressing.

Over the last 10 years, 120,000 unwanted pets have been put to sleep, and the number has increased over the years.

The Selangor Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals launched its No-Kill Movement recently, to educate the public and to reduce the number of animals being put to sleep.

Held at Universiti Putra Malaysia's Veterinary Medicine Faculty in Serdang, Selangor, in conjunction with International Homeless Animal Day 2004, there were talks on unseen strays, animal cruelty and law enforcement, licensing and responsible pet ownership, and the catching and humane killing of animals.

The programme was targeted at UPM lecturers and students, college and secondary school students, pet owners and animal welfare supporters.

At the end of the day-long programme, 12,000 candles were lit to commemorate the animals Selangor SPCA put to sleep last year.

Selangor SPCA veterinary officer Dr V. Pushparani said it receives 900 to 1,000 unwanted animals a month, half of them puppies and kittens.

"We can only keep 350 animals at the maximum, so the rest have to be euthanised," she said.

Deciding which one to keep alive and which one to kill is based on demand. "The public usually want Persian, Burmese, mixed Persian cats and pedigree dogs." Those who send in local cats and dogs, it seems, can rest assured that the animals won't live for long.

"We encourage owners to spay their pets instead of surrendering them, but most are not bothered. They just want the problem out of their hands," said Pushparani.

In the middle of the interview, a woman came to her table, asking for a form to surrender her puppy.

"Dia punya mak ada? (Does it have a mother?)," Pushparani asked, handing the woman a blue form.

"Ada (Yes)." "Sudah yim ka? (Have you spayed the mother?)" "Tak (No)." "Kita ada klinik, Setapak sana. Murah saja, RM70. (We have a clinic in Setapak. Cheap, only RM70)," Pushparani added.

"Mmmm," the woman replied, disinterested. She did not enquire further.

The clinic in question is Klinik Kembiri, a spaying clinic in Setapak, and SPCA's joint-venture project with Kuala Lumpur City Hall to give the public a cheaper alternative to spay cats and dogs.

"It is RM50 per cat and RM70 per dog. Cheap, considering private veterinarians charge a minimum of RM150," Pushparani said.

There was another boy, bubbly and smiling, who came with his parents and siblings to adopt a puppy. Pushparani said there were 150 adoptions a month, "but this is no match to the 900 animals received." "The public should be aware of the problem. They always think when they surrender their pets we will keep them forever, which is not true," she said.

The No-Kill Movement aims to reduce the euthanasia rate of healthy pets to zero by 2010.

"It is far-fetched, we know, but we need to slowly educate the public and tell them they should neuter their pets rather than surrender unwanted ones.

"Pet owners in the country have a very low sense of responsibility." Office manager Sally Lam, who was quiet throughout the interview, interrupted: "They want to own a pet but do not know the responsibility that comes with it.

"They don't want to treat the pets when these animals are sick and sometimes just throw them on the road. They even come and say, ‘I already have a nice puppy, I don't want the mother anymore.'" Garfield owner Jon Arbuckle may be a loser when it comes to work and women, but we can sure learn a thing or two from the geek on how to be a responsible pet owner.

* Klinik Kembiri in Jalan Ayer Jernih, off Jalan Genting Klang, Setapak is open from Wednesday to Monday from 9am to 4.30pm. Call 03-2021-1682 or 012-258-1041 for more information.