Workers struggling to feed and look after 2,500 furry friends

A helper at the Seberang Prai SPCA pouring pet food into trays to be fed to the animals.

THE lives of some 2,500 rescued animals are at stake as food and funding are running dry at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Seberang Prai in Juru, Penang.

Its chairman Tan Kah Chuah said that since the movement control order (MCO) was enforced, adoptions of animals and donations have stopped but not the centre’s heavy monthly expenses of RM40,000.

“We look after 2,000 dogs and 500 cats and have to pay the salaries of four workers who live at the premises.

“We rely mainly on public donations and fundraising events to meet our expenses.

“Since last month, people have stopped adopting the animals and donating food to us because they cannot come out.

“The animal adoptions help reduce our operating costs while adopters usually contribute a donation in return, ” said Tan.

She said the centre now relies on its remaining funds raised from a charity dinner in September last year.

“We raised RM160,000 at the dinner but that was half a year ago.

“With food supply and funds running low now, we hope kind donors can come forward to contribute.

“After 15 years in operation, we might close down if the situation does not improve, ” she said.

The society was formed in 2005 by a group of animal lovers and currently runs as a no-kill shelter NGO.

Many of the animals were rescued from being euthanised while others were victims of abuse and neglect.

Some were abandoned by their owners.