Foreign NGO and Ipoh clinic help low-income folk spay female dogs for free

A rescuer sending a stray dog to a veterinary clinic to be spayed.

A US-based animal welfare non-governmental organisation (NGO) is offering to help low-income folk spay their female dogs for free.

Filbert’s Foundation for Furry Friends, also known as F5, is collaborating with Mercy Veterinary Clinic in Taman Ipoh Timur on a programme to deter unwanted puppy births and dumping of pets.

F5 president Dr Namita Gill said interested pet owners in Ipoh with a combined household income of less than RM3,500 could apply for the programme.

“Independent rescuers can also apply. If approved, they can make an appointment with the veterinary clinic and bring their pets or stray dogs for spaying,” she said when contacted.

“Apart from the simple surgery that will be fully sponsored by F5, the programme also includes one-day boarding and one-time flea and tick prevention treatment,” she said, adding that a similar programme had been initiated by Fur Kids Wellness Centre in Petaling Jaya.

“More than 50 female dogs were spayed at a cost of less than RM12,000 from May to July this year,” she added.

Dr Namita said the programme did not include neutering male dogs because F5 believed spaying female canines was more effective for population control.

“A recent International Companion Animal Management (ICAM) Coalition conference has shown that it is more effective to do high volume spaying of female dogs than killing or neutering both sexes in controlling the population.

“Our funds are also limited, so our target is spaying female dogs,” she said, adding that the tip of the dog’s ear would be cropped indicating it has been spayed.

“We hope to continue this programme indefinitely if funding is sufficient and to collaborate with more veterinarians in Ipoh,” she added.

Dr Namita, who was in Bercham to meet with rescuers, spoke on the importance of spaying and neutering pets in tackling the stray dog population and pet dumping issues.

“Not only do the dogs suffer tremendously, rescuers too are exhausted trying to care for abandoned dogs,” she said.

“Feeding, neutering and medical care are costly and most rescuers are not wealthy people.”

She said those found dumping their pets could be charged under Section 29 of the Animal Welfare Act.

“If found guilty, owners who abandon their pets could be fined a maximum of RM100,000 or be jailed for up to three years or both,” she said.

If you witness a pet being dumped, please gather evidence and report to the Veterinary Services Department.

This can be done via https://awa.dvs.gov.my/support.

For details on the programme, visit https://f5strays.org/update or call 017-442 9352 (Shanti) / 016-553 9923 (Tan).