Stray-free and responsible ownership of pets. These humane goals are SPCA Selangor’s vision for Malaysia in five years, writes LOKE POH LIN.

WOULDN’T it be heavenly if one could sit at a warong sipping a teh tarik without stray cats milling about picking food off the table next to you? Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were no more stray dogs barking at your car and messing up the neighbourhood garbage cans? Wouldn't it be great if there were no more sickly, mangy animals run over by cars and hurt by abusive human beings?

It can become a reality with the help of Malaysia’s caring society, says SPCA Selangor. The SPCA Selangor has just issued a new year challenge to the country's citizens — let’s work together to make Malaysia free of stray dogs and cats in five years’ time.

The ambitious goal is one the group has set itself against seemingly overwhelming odds. In 2003, the SPCA Animal Home took in 13,268 animals, an average of 1,200 per month. Only 10 per cent were rehomed, leaving the SPCA with no choice but to humanely euthanise the others.

Yet the NGO, which receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations and sponsorship, believes if Malaysians pull together and play their part, the country can have the infrastructure in place to be stray-free by 2010.

This will include low-cost neutering clinics with vets trained in sterilising animals at the early age of around three months, lower licence costs for owners of neutered pets, laws to stop breeders from over-producing animals, tougher penalties for animal abusers and education to encourage a new generation of animal lovers.

“There’s no doubt that this is a tall order,” says SPCA chairman Christine Chin. “But in the past few years we have made tremendous progress, and want to maintain that momentum. In 2002, we started Klinik Kembiri, a low-cost neutering clinic run in partnership with the municipality and already making an impact on the numbers of unwanted puppies and kittens born.

“Last year, we had five successful cruelty prosecutions and two High Court appeals, and staged a ground-breaking ‘vet swap’ training programme with the Bali Street Dog Foundation. Malaysia is starting to gain an animal welfare record to be proud of amongst Asian countries, but there is a great deal more work to do.”

The SPCA supported and worked with municipality officers in putting together the evidence. The NGO will continue to press for changes to the law in 2005 including an increase of the present maximum fine from RM200 to RM10,000 and the introduction of a ban on keeping animals for those convicted of cruelty.

The policy document is the first formulated since the SPCA was founded in 1958, and outlines its vision and approach to all aspects of animal welfare. Rehoming during 2005 featured many happy stories but still represents an uphill struggle against the huge numbers of unwanted animals brought to the centre or rescued from the streets.

“Crucially, it is not just up to the SPCA. The onus rests with the people of Malaysia. If everyone takes the responsibility of neutering their pets, the problem would be wiped out pretty much overnight. This would leave the SPCA free to channel its energies into inspectorate work, lobbying, education and law enforcement rather than the endless battle against a continually rising tide of stray animals,” explains Christine.

An alarming 85 per cent of pet births are not planned. During the coming year, the SPCA hopes other municipalities around Malaysia will set up their own Klinik Kembiris. This excellent model of co-operation is a key solution in stray control. Following the introduction of similar clinics in the United States and other parts of the world, between 20 to 50 per cent fewer animals have been brought into city animal shelters.

In 2004, of the 12,978 animals brought in, 667 dogs and 482 cats were rehomed. Tragically, the SPCA still has to euthanise around 90 per cent of the animals it receives at its Animal Shelter at Ampang Jaya, a situation forced upon the SPCA by unthinking owners who fail to have their pets neutered or take on an animal on a whim.

Rehoming was given a boost in September and October last year when a special adoption booth was set up at the Ikano Power Centre every weekend, kindly sponsored by Pedigree pet foods. Thirty dogs and cats were placed in new loving homes through this initiative, and it is hoped that many more such outreach events will be possible in the year ahead.

Neutering continued to be the central theme of the SPCA’s work and Klinik Kembiri, now in its second year, went from strength to strength. A proud record of 771 animals in total were neutered — 232 dogs and 539 cats.

Another initiative with far-reaching effects was a training workshop held between the SPCA and the Bali Street Dog Foundation. Groups of vets swapped countries in September and October 2004 to spend time with their colleagues both for hands-on practice of operations and theory sessions. Training on early-age neutering of animals was a key theme, and for the KL leg of the workshop around 40 vets from the area joined the group.

Earlier in May 2004 the SPCA and the DBKL held a workshop in Port Dickson to introduce the ideas behind “Stray-Free Malaysia”. Around 40 officers from the seven municipalities heard how they could set up their own clinics with Klinik Kembiri being upheld as a model of best practice. And seminars were held on legislation, neutering, licensing and education.

Of great importance at this workshop was sharing the Jakim statement from the Muslim Religious Council, giving Muslims religious assent to neuter their animals.

Both SPCA staff, volunteers and dogs benefited from training this year! The staff was given several sessions with a professional customer care trainer, and a number of dogs underwent training with UK British dog handler David Remnant for six months.

The results were particularly enjoyable to see, with dogs that had never tolerated a lead before walking calmly and obediently and standing a better chance of going to new homes. The trainers also benefited from a huge sense of achievement from seeing their charges change from withdrawn canines to sociable pooches.

Over 1,000 children from many schools toured the shelter throughout 2004, taking part in quizzes and finding out about animal care. These youngsters span a wide age range, come from many different nationalities and attend both government and private schools.

The “Kind Kid” awards were created in 2004 to encourage children to learn about and demonstrate animal welfare awareness. This year’s aim is to employ the first-ever SPCA education officer to take a World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)-devised education programme about caring for animals directly into the classroom.

Two of the year’s more unusual events were a blessing ceremony at the Shelter carried out by five Buddhist monks and a candle-lit vigil for all homeless animals held at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

The SPCA is grateful for the extremely generous support and sponsorship from two international organisations in 2004. Both the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the Humane Society International (HIS) had the insight and foresight to give generously and make a number of projects possible.

2004 also saw the introduction of the corporate sponsorship scheme, attracting a magnificent donation of RM100,000 from HSBC.

Christine Chin, who took over Chairmanship of SPCA Selangor in February 2004, said it was gratifying to look back on their achievements: “Everyone has worked so hard this year to really push the work of the SPCA forward, and it is extremely gratifying to look back on this momentous year in our history. In 2005, we will continue with our legal campaigning and aim to take on more cruelty prosecutions.

“We hope to find an education officer to increase our work in schools and a marketing person to spearhead our corporate sponsorship scheme. Although Malaysia is making good progress with animal welfare and, in many ways, have many achievements to be proud of, there is still a long way to go.”

Involved with the SPCA for over a decade as a volunteer and for the past four years on the committee, Christine has rescued numerous dogs on her own and an unshakeable dedication and drive to push animal welfare in Malaysia forward. Her vision is for the SPCA to become a strong voice for animals in Malaysia and around the globe, through links with other NGOs. She says she is working towards the day when every pet in Malaysia is wanted and cared for, and every owner is responsible and has a duty to be caring.

The SPCA Selangor's website is constantly being updated and adopted a brand new look only a month ago. Log on to www.spca.org.my to see how you can be part of this animal welfare organisation that believes that “being kind to animals ultimately leads to being kind to humankind”.