Article: Selangor wants animal lovers to help in rescue

Saturday May 9, 2009

PORT KLANG: All animal welfare groups and independent rescuers have been asked to be involved in the managing of strays in the state.

“I urge everyone to come forward and give their suggestions on how we can tackle the problem,” said state local government, research and studies committee chairman Ronnie Liu.

His call came in the wake of an international outcry over the dumping of hundreds of stray dogs on a nearby islands by Pulau Ketam residents.

The residents’ excuse was that they were no longer able to tolerate the growing stray dog population on their island.

Liu also invited independent rescuers to get in touch with the Klang Municipal Council which will be holding a meeting for animal rescue groups on Monday.

“Please attend and tell the council what can be done to rescue the dogs as well as prevent more such incidents from occurring,” he added.

Animal rescue groups such as the Furry Friends Farm and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have been going on rescue missions to Pulau Tengah and Pulau Selat Kering. However, the groups have only been able to rescue five dogs.

Meanwhile, the Buddhist Chief High Priest of Malaysia Venerable K. Sri Dhammaratana said he was upset when he read about what the Pulau Ketam folk did.

“It shows that they lack compassion. To abandon dogs on an island which has no food and water is unacceptable.

“They have forgotten that these dogs are living things,” he told The Star yesterday.

Dhammaratana added that, as a dog lover, he was rankled that people could resort to such cruelty.

Independent Pet Rescuers founder Sherrina Krishnan said it was time for the Government to be seriously involved in the matter.

“It may appear to be a trivial matter to some but what the Pulau Ketam folk have done has created a lot of negative publicity for Malaysia,” she added.

“There are also many blogs that have been created in the West, calling for all visits to Malaysia to be halted until the dogs dumped by the Pulau Ketam residents have been rescued,” she said.

It is believed that more independent rescue groups will be going to the islands to rescue the dogs next week.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: News: Nation 9 May 2009