SANDAKAN: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Sandakan and the Sandakan Municipal Council have jointly worked together to reduce animal abuse cases in the district.
SPCA Sandakan chairman Ku Chiau Pin said their rescue team had painstakingly worked hand in hand with the municipal council and the public to reduce animal abuse cases through rescue operations and awareness talks at schools and to local community.
“School children and the public were exposed to the knowledge of pets caring and ownership responsibilities. The latest awareness talk was held on September 14 at IJM Land Family Carnival Fair,” he said at the ‘My Pet My Buddy 2014’ fund-raising charity dinner at Yu Yuan Multipurpose Hall on Sunday night.
According to Ku, SPCA being a non-profit charitable organisation, welcomes the sincere support and sponsorship from the public and individuals for the society to fulfill its mission.
SPCA Sandakan expressed its gratitude for the support by SMC for the two acres of land leased at Jalan Bumi Mas off Jalan Datuk Tay, to the society. The land is being developed to be a shelter centre.
The centre now has two units of completed quarters for workers and a mobile container office with external toilets for visitors. It is divided into three parts, and has also a proper sewerage and drainage system.
The first part is for cooking cum storeroom, besides housing cages for cats. The second shelter is for dogs, while the third building that is under construction, will be built with another 24 cages for dogs.
At present, the centre is run by two full-time workers and managed by the shelter’s sub-committee. The shelter’s compound is secured with a six feet high chain-link fencing, while fencing to the quarters areas is only partial due to insufficient fund.
Ku said there was still a lot to be done to complete the centre, and SPCA’s next project is the quarantine centre cum clinic.
Part of the funds raised during ‘My Pet My Buddy 2014’ charity night will be used to fund the project.
The charity dinner was officiated by Batu Sapi member of parliament Datuk Linda Tsen.
Speaking at the event, Linda praised the love and hard work of the committee towards the well-being of animals and expressed hope that the public would come hand in hand with SPCA Sandakan to save these poor animals from being neglected and abused.
The charity dinner was enlivened with a pet contest and a K-9 unit show from the Royal Malaysian Police.
Also present at the event were Elopura assemblyman Datuk Au Kam Wah, SMC deputy president Haji Hamsan Bin Haji Awang Supain, and the charity dinner organising chairlady, Voo Min Gin.