April 19, 2010, Monday
KUCHING: Rapid urbanisation taking place at Kota Sentosa — one of Kuching’s fastest growing suburban areas — has left the authorities with no choice but to move the Animal Shelter to a new location. Another reason for the Animal Shelter to move to a new ‘home’ is because it has reached full capacity and could pose health hazard to nearby residents.
At present, Sarawak Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) takes care of 130 cats and 60 dogs at the Animal Shelter. Housing and Urban Development Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, who revealed the plan to relocate the Animal Shelter yesterday, said the new location has been identified to be somewhere between Batu Kawah and Bau. “When the current shelter was being set up in 1990, the surrounding area was empty. But as more development took place in Kota Sentosa, the current location is now deemed unsuitable. “We are looking into a new place somewhere between Batu Kawah and Bau, and not in the city centre,” he said.
Abang Johari, who is also Satok assemblyman, mentioned this to reporters after opening the SSPCA first-ever Charity Food Fair at the Civic Centre yesterday. To a question, he said the area size as well as the costing details for the new Animal Shelter were yet to be finalised. He nonetheless hoped the relocation of the shelter could be implemented within the next one or two years. “The new shelter will act as a confinement place for stray animals, and doctors and veterinary personnel will be there to ensure that the animals are well taken care of,” he said, adding the land allocated will be slightly bigger than the current one.
He also explained that as Urban Development Minister, it is his duty to ensure that the city is clean and healthy, and to have stray animals around is not good for the image of Kuching.
According to him, there could be more than 150 stray cats and dogs in the city at one time and this does not reflect well on the city. “The public awareness is very important so that they are more caring towards their pet animals, and not dump them away anyhow,” he said. Meanwhile, SSPCA public relations committee Dona Drury-Wee welcomed the announcement by Abang Johari as good news and big relief for the association.
“Our shelter at the moment is surrounded by shophouses and we had asked for a three- to-four acre piece of land to move our shelter from its current location,” said Wee who revealed that she had met Abang Johari to discuss the matter two months ago.
On the charity food fair, Wee described the response as overwhelming as most of the food and items were sold out. “With 40 participating stalls, we hope to raise around RM60,000 to RM70,000 as we need some financial boost to manage the current shelter such as the rising operational cost and pet food,” she said.
