RECENTLY, as I was making my way to the ATM during lunch break, a greyish lump caught my attention as it was just inches away from the machine. 

At first, I thought it was just a heap of old clothes. I nearly jumped out of my skin when it began to stir. It took me awhile to register that the “lump” was actually a dog.

The creature I was looking at hardly had any fur left. It was instead on its skin which was covered with a thick layer of fungus, scabs and what looked like some other parasitic growth, making it look somewhat deformed.

Its eyes were bloodshot red and one ear was almost severed, dangling loosely on the outermost layer of skin there. Even from a distance I could see maggots crawling in the wounds.

As I was pressed for time, I made a mental note to go back later to see what I could do about the stray dog. I thought of contacting SPCA as I thought it would be better for it to be put to sleep than to suffer that way.

However, when I went back there, it was nowhere in sight.

What I saw made me wonder what the relevant authorities have been doing about stray animals such as dogs and cats. We should not be calling ourselves a developed nation if simple issues like these are not taken seriously.

Dog Lover
Shah Alam