Not lost in the chaos following Saturday’s Bukit Antarabangsa tragedy is the welfare of our furry, four-legged friends.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), along with rescue workers and neighbours, have pitched in to feed and care for pets lost, abandoned or injured as a result of the landslide.
“We have provided cages, as well as food and water, for the animals that people might find and have set up a temporary shelter. We urge residents, volunteers and rescuers who find lost or injured cats and dogs to place them in the cage and contact us immediately so that we may come and collect these animals,” said SPCA Public Relations and Marketing officer Nicole Tai yesterday.
The SPCA has set up a cat refuge on location so that lost and injured pets can be rescued. They have also been visiting evacuated homes to check on the condition of the many pets left behind.
So far, they have rescued more than 50 cats, which are now at a veterinary clinic receiving treatment.
“One lady was unable to get her two cats out when she was evacuated and rescue officials did not allow her to return to her apartment so she contacted us for help. Our team, with the help of the rescue unit, was able to enter the building and rescue that cat,” Tai said.
The SPCA has been unable to ascertain exactly how many pets had died in the landslide but rescue officials told them that the body of “a couple of dogs” had been located and buried.
An independent pet rescuer also informed the SPCA that there were dogs that had been left behind and they responded by surveying the area on the far side of the landslide. They plan to return to the area tomorrow with food for the animals and also leaflets to distribute to neighbours to help look after pets left behind. They also advise concerned pet owners to first contact their neighbours to ask them to help look after their pets, although, if they are unable to do so, they can call the association.
SPCA chairman Christine Chin said: “Of course we are all distressed with this large-scale tragedy at the human-end. As much as we want to help animals, we are also concerned with the safety of the people.”
This article was taken from: the malay mail: news 9 december 2008
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