How Penang animal shelter with ‘no-kill’ policy cares for 1,700 strays

 Seberang Perai SPCA chairman Lew Wen Teik says euthanasia is out of the question for the shelter, despite the operational challenges it faces.

Vaccinated dogs at the Seberang Perai SPCA shelter that are ready for adoption.

BUKIT MERTAJAM:

Running an animal shelter is no small challenge, especially as shelters nationwide grapple with rising numbers of stray animals and abandoned pets, leading to overcrowding.

For a long time, some shelters have operated as “kill shelters”, euthanising animals after a holding period because of space constraints and overpopulation.

However, killing animals is a red line that Penang-based Seberang Perai SPCA’s team would not cross, with shelter chairman Lew Wen Teik saying euthanasia would go against their consciences as animal lovers.

Lew said many had asked why the shelter has adopted a no-kill policy when it already cares for more than 1,700 animals.

“Our mission and objective as animal lovers are to save, not to kill.

“We believe that this is a sanctuary for all injured or diseased animals that come here. It is not a place for them to die. It is a place for them to continue living,” he said.

He said this conviction drives the shelter to welcome all stray animals, both healthy and sick.

Lew also said shelter volunteers nurse mildly sick animals on their own, only taking them to veterinary clinics for complicated cases, which they pay for out of their own pockets.

The shelter’s treasurer and pound manager, Richard Ong, said the facility functions as a “hospital” for abandoned animals with deformities that need urgent medical care, as well as strays involved in road accidents.

Seberang Perai SPCA treasurer Richard Ong (left) and chairman Lew Wen Teik.

The Seberang Perai SPCA was established in 2005 by its founding chairman, the late Tan Kah Chuah, with a group of animal lovers to rescue, protect, and shelter abandoned animals in the district.

The group obtained 1.6ha of land in Juru from the Seberang Perai city council, with which it signed an agreement to take in and care for stray animals surrendered by the local council after being held at its pounds.

Apart from caring for strays, Lew said, the shelter helps Penang create dog-friendly parks on the mainland.

Seberang Perai SPCA plans to open a dog park on the remaining 0.4ha yet to be utilised, inspired by a similar facility in Bandar Utama, Selangor.

Cash, volunteers and adopters needed

The shelter, which presently cares for 1,400 dogs and 350 cats, faces operational challenges. It spends about RM75,000 a month on food, with costs averaging RM2,500 a day as the facility cooks 1,200kg of food daily.

Water costs about RM1,600 a month, while medication costs about RM10,000, and up to RM30,000 when dealing with a spike in sick and injured animals.

Most dogs at the shelter are strays sent by the Seberang Perai City Council to the facility, where they get vaccinated and neutered.

Salaries for the shelter’s clerk and six other workers amount to about RM15,000 a month.

Taking into account facility maintenance and rent, Ong said, monthly operational costs could reach up to RM120,000.

“Fortunately, we have many supporters. They donate cash as well as rice, milk, and cat and dog food,” he said.

Both Lew and Ong dismissed misconceptions that Seberang Perai SPCA is fully funded by the government, saying the shelter, like many others, appeals to the state and federal government and the public for donations.

“Both of us are basically the biggest beggars out there,” joked Lew.

They said the shelter also seeks more volunteers to complement the efforts of its 10 active volunteers, including three who work as round-the-clock animal rescuers.

It also hopes that members of the public keen to adopt pets will help provide homes to the animals, which are vaccinated and neutered.

Those interested in helping and volunteering for Seberang Perai SPCA may visit the shelter’s Facebook page or contact the facility at 017-476-8660 or 017-470-3383. Those who would like to donate may do so through A/C No 731-123-206-7 (OCBC Bank). - FMT