SS PCA gets RM3,000 from Nancy

KUCHING: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Dato Sri Nancy Shukri handed over RM3,000 to Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA). It is hoped that the money could give ample supply of food and provisions for the animals at the shelter.

In her speech during the SSPCA Christmas Charity Carnival held at the Association of Churches, she disclosed that SSPCA had been asking Local Government and the Ministry of Agriculture to assist in setting up a Klinik Kembiri. This is similar to those set up by Selangor SPCA and DBKL to offer year-round subsidised neutering for registered animal rescuers and the lower income groups.

“I understand this year has been a very difficult year, not just for SSPCA but for all animal lovers in Kuching and around the state – with the news of the rabies outbreak. “It was most unfortunate that human lives were lost, and especially heartbreaking that it included young children.

“I read that the Ministry of Agriculture and Local Government Ministry had sought advice from SSPCA on how to deal with this outbreak and will continue to work together for the next few years to eradicate this dreaded disease from our state as it will take several years to get back our ‘rabies free’ status,” said Nancy.

This will be Nancy’s fifth consecutive time to make her presence at the event each year. Also speaking was the President of SSPCA, Datin Dona Drury Wee who said that the shelter’s effort in raising fund is continuous as it houses 300 to 350 animals. It costs about RM30,000 to maintain the shelter with common expenses such as staff salaries, food and medical bills.

“Since SSPCA has gained more public awareness, more animals have been dumped and they tell us that is it our job and not theirs. “Hence, we have taken the initiative to reach out to children by going to schools to give talks to them because they are the ones who would listen and not the adults,” said Dona. She then said that in order to stop rabies from spreading, all concerning authorities including SSPCA must hit 70 per cent of dogs vaccinated in the state.

“We thank the government for heeding our advice and thus we must continue this effort,” said Dona.