| :. Proposal to Make Spaying of Pets a Must |
Kota Kinabalu: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Kota Kinabalu (SPCA Kota Kinabalu) will propose to the State Government to make the spaying (castrating) of animal pets mandatory.
This measure is practically "nipping in the bud" the problem of uncontrolled breeding, a situation that may give rise to cruelty and abuse by owners towards their animals.
SPCA Kota Kinabalu President, Loretta Lucas, said the society would be working with the authorities concerned in this respect.
On RSPCA's first awareness campaign and membership drive held Saturday at Palm Square, Centre Point, she said the activity was basically aimed at educating people about realising that animals, like humans, needed to be loved and not to be abused.
She referred particularly to common pets like dogs and cats.
"There are a lot of pet owners but they are not necessarily pet lovers. They like animals but maybe just as toys. For instance, they like little puppies because they look cute."
"But after that when the animals become a hassle and they get tired of them, they get rid of them and maybe throw them into the streets or let them loose in unfamiliar surroundings, letting them fend for themselves, " Loretta said.
Another instance is keeping pets in a constrained environment such as in a cage, or chained permanently, where they cannot move freely. This is tantamount to abuse and cruelty," she said.
The RSPCA, a non-profit organisation and totally dependent on public donations, has 40 members to date and growing.
Officially registered on Feb 14, 2006, it was initiated by Ms Joanne DeArment, who, broken-hearted that her licensed dog named Max was shot by the City Hall Dog Unit, decided to set it up in memory of Max and to prevent similar incidents of cruelty to animals.
"If we can make pet owners understand that animals also deserve love and respect as humans do, hopefully they would learn to connect with their pets, and in the end we may have been able to prevent such cruelty," Loretta said.
She noted that for now there is no enforcement against cruelty to animals although there is already a law in place.
"But not many people know that, through this campaign we also want to make people aware that there is such a law," she said.
She lamented that the penalty, merely RM150 is too low, and that RSPCA would try to push for an amendment.
Meanwhile, Stephen Lim, whose "Crystal Palace" outlet was just next to RSPCA's exhibition, when asked for his views, said he does not keep any animals.
"Not that I don't like them. I like animals and that is the very reason why I don't keep them. Because once you keep them you have to cage them, which is no good. They are supposed to be free," he said.
Among the myths and facts about spaying and neutering: Myth: My pet will be lazy. Fact: The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their owners feed them too much and don't give them enough exercise. Myth: I want my dog to be protective. Fact: Spaying and neutering does not affect a dog's natural instinct to protect home and family. A dog's personality is formed by genetics and environment rather than by sex hormones. Myth: I don't want my male dog or cat to feel like less of a male. Fact: Pets don't have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet's basic personality. He doesn't suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered. |
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Daily Express, 3 April, 2008
Posted by webmaster on 18 May 2008, Sun
