Dog Lover Needs More Time To Set Up Animal Sanctuary

Article below from STREETS, NST August 26 August 2009

DOG LOVER NEEDS MORE TIME TO SET UP ANIMAL SANCTUARY

KUALA LUMPUR: A woman's compassion for stray dogs has put her in a bind.

The 68-year-old, who has turned the grounds of her bungalow into a temporary shelter for stray dogs, is now in a dilemma following complaints from some of her neighbours.

Chan Mee Fah said she was aware that some of her neighbours had complained about the dogs' barking and howling and she was looking for a piece of land outside the city to relocate the dogs.

"I have been planning to move out. I am looking for a place where the dogs can run freely without causing problems to anyone. I am in the midst of identifying a plot of land and I am estimating the move to be finalised in a year-and-a-half as it will take a few months to acquire the land and to set up the sanctuary," she said.

Chan declined to reveal the number of dogs in her house compound but a neighbour who complained to Streets claimed that there were at least 45 dogs.

The neighbour, who only wanted to be known as Eu, said she had been unable to rent out her double-storey bungalow due to the excessive barking from the dogs.

Eu said she had been suffering a RM7,000 loss in monthly rental.

Her earlier tenant who worked for an embassy here moved out after complaining about the din caused by the dogs.

"The tenant complained that his family was forced to keep their windows closed all the time to shut out the noise.

"Those who came to view my house were also put off by the dogs' incessant barking."

Chan said she had gone as far as Ulu Yam, Semenyih, Sepang, Bentong and Sungai Buloh to look for a suitable piece of agricultural land. She said she would need a plot of land measuring 0.8ha and she was prepared to pay about RM300,000 for it.

Asked why she kept so many dogs, Chan said most of the dogs were rescued by pet rescuers who later had difficulty finding suitable homes for them.

The dogs are housed in wooden kennels in her garden and porch area.

Chan began taking in the dogs in the 1980s after hearing that the Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was putting several dogs down due to lack of space.

"Gradually, the number grew and I built comfortable wooden kennels for the dogs to stay in. The kennels cost me about RM300,000. Now, my home functions as a boarding house for dogs that nobody wants to adopt."

Chan, a retiree, spends about RM50,000 a month to feed, spay and neuter the canines as well as hire workers to help take care of them.

Chan's case brings to mind another similar situation involving another retiree Tan Tiam Seng, 65, who got into trouble with the authorities after it was discovered that he had more than 15 dogs at his rented single-storey terrace house in Taman Sri Segambut.

It was reported last month that Tan had rescued the strays in his neighbourhood and took them home and cared for them.

Tan's neighbours complained about the foul stench and claimed that the common drains were clogged with the dogs' faeces.

He was subsequently forced to temporarily placed his pets at a factory belonging to a friend. Tan makes daily visits to the factory to ensure that the dogs are well taken care off by workers he had hired to feed and bathe them.

City Hall's rules permits only one dog for every household.

Meanwhile, SPCA public relations officer Jacinta Johnson asked the authorities not to take action against Chan but to give her time to relocate the dogs.

"Chan is a charitable person who has been helping the society. She adopts dogs from us occasionally, alleviating our burden.

"We know that Chan takes good care of the dogs and feeds them well. She also goes a step further by sponsoring dogs rescued by other people and helping pet rescuers financially if the dogs need medical treatment."

Johnson said Chan, a member of the SPCA, also sponsored part of an SPCA employee's salary and donates annually to the society.

SAM Wants Probe Into Zoo Negara's Mismanagement

Below is a letter from Sahabat Alam Malaysia published in Malaysia Kini:

Zoo Negara's problems making news headlines isn't anything new. Similar issues have surfaced before in the past, with the Malaysian Zoological Society refuting allegations of poor management.

There have been reports in 2003 of pygmy hippotamuses, penguins, tigers, antelopes, zebras and giraffes dying from neglect and poor decision-making.

The society seems incapable of managing the zoo. What difference will it make if the government gives it more funds? Whatever the outcome, things do not look bright for the zoo's future.

Animals in zoos are completely dependent on people. When funds fall short or bad management practices prevail, it is always the animals who suffer or die.

Forget about pride! A zoo that is struggling to stay open, and is unable to look after its animals adequately, should be scheduled for closure.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is shocked and disturbed to learn of the 'collectors' syndrome' affecting its management that is now setting its sights on a proposed aviary, insectariums, fish aquarium, pygmy elephants and the latest tropical animals.

The zoo's perception is that new attractions will increase gate collections. Invariably, a well-managed zoo shows the unmistakable stamp of a knowledgeable director, not by having a world-class zoo but in the consideration shown towards the comfort, both physical and mental, of its stock.

Depending upon size, display space, and available funds, a wise zoo director keeps his inventory within limits.

The phenomenon of listless, bored animals is a crucial problem in zoos and the challenge is to keep them stimulated. Zoo Negara should focus improving upon its animal welfare further and do away with animals in cages.

Enrichment programmes have been initiated recently, but there is more to it than refurbishing an animal's exhibit. It needs to encompass foraging behaviour, mental stimulation, cognitive ability and socialising.

The challenge faced by Zoo Negara is improving the lives of the zoo inhabitants. For now it should concentrate on vast improvements to its remaining collections to reduce deaths.

SAM urges a full probe be made by the Ministry of Natural Resources and findings be revealed to the public. The zoo should be competent, accountable and transparent in all its actions and be held accountable for all this malaise.

We call on the MACC to reveal its findings of the on-going investigations of the zoo's mismanagement without any cover-up whatsoever.

A zoo legislation to govern all animal establishments including aquariums, reptile and butterfly farms should be incorporated into the amended Wildlife Protection Act with a policy document drawn up in close consultation with animal welfare groups.

By S M Mohd Idris, the president of Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)

Stop the Construction of Primate Testing Facilities in Malaysia!

Appeal from PETA:
Please click here to sign letter calling on Malaysian government to HALT NEGOTIATIONS FOR PRIMATE TESTING FACILITIES

http://action.petaasiapacific.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=110&ea.campaign.id=3834&ea.param.extras=ea_source_code:papadvmtfcenews~c=pap_enews

PETA EVENT IN KUALA LUMPUR - NEED YOUR HELP

Below is a note from PETA. If you can volunteer to help please contact Ashley at AshleyF@PETAAsiaPacific.com

At the beginning of September, PETA Asia staffers will be visiting Kuala Lumpur for an eye-catching protest. On Wednesday, 2 September, (around midday) we'll be hosting an educational event featuring a Lettuce Lady – who will be wearing a full-length gown made of lettuce.

The event aims to educate people about the millions of cows, pigs, chickens and other animals killed for their flesh every year. As I'm sure you know, these animals are kept in extremely crowded, filthy enclosures and are denied everything that is natural and important to them. At the slaughterhouse, animals are routinely hung upside down, have their throats cut, are skinned and are scalded to death while still conscious.

We need your help to make these demos successful! Please contact me if you're able to help in any of the following ways:

· We need a volunteer who speaks Bahasa Malay to attend our event. The volunteer would be assisting us in speaking to the public and the media. If you're not comfortable speaking to the media, we'd love to have you help with the set-up of the event.

· We need volunteers who can make follow-up calls in Bahasa Malay to media outlets. The calls need to be done on the afternoon before and/or the morning of the demo. The calls are very simple and are just intended to verify that the media outlet has received our news release. We are grateful for any help with media calls—even five calls can make a big difference!

· We need a volunteer who can check out possible locations for the event before we arrive to make sure that they are suitable for the event.

· We need volunteers at the event itself who can help with putting everything together.

Please reply to this e-mail for more information about any of these projects.

Thanks so much for everything that you do for animals!

Best regards,
Ashley Fruno
Senior Campaigner
PETA Asia

Sid's Pub No Longer Allows Dogs

I'm really angry that Sid's Pub no longer welcomes dogs especially after I wrote a story in the Star naming it as one of the six places that welcomes dogs. I called Sid's and a staff told me they received a letter from the Ministry of Health threatening their license will be revoked if they continue to allow dogs. The staff said the letter from the Ministry stated that a customer complained.

While I believe Sid's Pub truly did receive such a letter and I've never doubted their sincerity in welcoming dogs as they've been doing it for a long time, I am startled to hear that a customer's complaint can warrant such a drastic and unreasonable act from the Ministry.

If a customer is unhappy all he needs to do is go elsewhere. Why the interference from the Ministry of Health? And that too for no obvious evidence of any hygiene issues but for one reason only - the presence of dogs.

Once again it shows the ignorance and blatant disregard of this govt for the feelings of other communities and cultures and their hatred for dogs is just interfering now with people's freedom to enjoy the company of dogs and restaurants freedom to allow dogs.

The staff told me some customers have complained of dog fur but the majority don't mind and Sid's continued to welcome dogs. So if the restaurant owners choose to welcome dogs and the patrons are happy to hang out there with or without dogs, why should it be anyone else's business to stop them?

Guys if you have not registered to vote yet, please, please go and register right away as Pakatan Rakyat believes general elections might be called next year. If you want to stop this madness, please vote for Pakatan Rakyat next elections and even if you're sick or overseas, drag yourself to the polling station and LET YOUR VOICE BE COUNTED.