4,000 pets vaccinated in nationwide campaign
The Sun, 30 Sept 2005

MALAYSIA'S first nationwide pet vaccination campaign, Pet Vaccination Month 2005, has met its objectives, with more than 4,000 pets vaccinated.

The campaign was org anised by Friends of Responsible Pet Ownership (FRPO) in partnership with par ticipating veterinary clinics nationwide, with the aim of educating the public on the impor tance of pet vaccination as one the first steps to responsible pet ownership.

"We are pleased with the results," said the former president of Malaysian Small Animal Veterinary Association,Dr P. Vanaja, who spearheaded the campaign during her term.

"Vaccination is a very important first step to responsible pet ownership, as many common infectious diseases can cause severe illnesses and even death," she said.

"Many pet owners bring in their pets when these common diseases are in advanced stages, making it difficult for the veterinary surgeon to save the animal."

Throughout the campaign, members of the public were able to vaccinate their pets at a subsidised rate of RM25.

FRPO also raised the issue in a public forum, to educate pet owners and raise awareness on the importance of pet vaccination.

Vanaja emphasised the campaign's success in establishing relationships between veterinarians and pet owners, as regular visits to the vet are a basic requirement of responsible pet ownership.

The chair man of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Christine Chin, agreed.

et owners must realise that their pets are not toys," she said.

"If they decide to own a pet, they must also be prepared to take the necessary steps to care for it."

The FRPO is a collaborative effort by Malaysian Small Animal Veterinarian Association (MSAVA), the Faculty of Veterinarian Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and Effem Foods Malaysia.