SSPCA

MEDICAL TREATMENT: Minnie is seen with a freshly disinfected wound. —SSPCA photo

KUCHING: The Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) has called for better enforcement from the authorities in response to animal cruelty cases.

SSPCA president Dona Drury Wee said although the society has no authority to seize abused pets or arrest errant owners, it often gets requests from the public to rescue pets. Wee explained that SSPCA could only advise owners to treat their pets better and that only the police and the Sarawak Department of Veterinary Services have the authority to act according to the law.

“Both departments need to be more proactive about it. If people realise that they can get away with abusing their pets, they will just do it,” she told The Borneo Post and Utusan Borneo yesterday. She suggested the police and Veterinary Department set up a hotline for animal abuse cases. Drury Wee was speaking in response to the SSPCA’s latest rescue of two puppies — Mickey and Minnie — estimated to be about four months old.

The puppies were released to SSPCA last weekend by the owner, who ignored the group’s advice to give the animals proper care. Shelter veterinarian Dr Davies Belayong said both puppies had picked up canine distemper in addition to experiencing a long period of starvation and ill-treatment. “We must educate the public that animals should not be treated like property, but like family,” he said.

Mickey has since died, while Minnie is expected to eventually succumb to her illness. Shelter manager Richard Lim said both puppies were friendly despite being reduced to skin and bones. “Minnie has an open wound on her back, which was full of maggots that we had to clean out,” he said, adding that the shelter is making sure she gets to live out the last of her days comfortably and with a full belly.