Pet owners urged not to abandon animals

Don’t leave them: Dr Afiq holding one of the rabbits that was abandoned at the clinic where he works in Perling.

JOHOR BARU: Veterinarians and animal shelter operators are urging the public not to abandon their animals during and after the movement control order (MCO).

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Johor Baru vice-president Dr Edwin Singam said he received almost 20 cats since the start of the MCO.

“These poor animals were left in boxes and cages at the entrance of our veterinary clinic with no notes, so we have no choice but to take them in.

“So far, we have about 15 kittens and three adult cats, two of which are pregnant, ” he said yesterday.

He has also received calls from pet owners stuck in Singapore due to the MCO who needed help to feed their pet dogs here.

He said the owners requested him to go to their homes to feed their dogs or pass food to their neighbours.

They were willing to pay him.

Nor Azhar Abdul Hamid, owner of Cat Tiram Shelter, said during the MCO, his shelter received calls from people who wished to send him cats.

“I am not sure if these are pet owners or they found stray cats. But we received nine calls so far from those who wanted to drop off these felines, ” he added.

Dr Afiq Sazwan Abdul Aziz, who has been a veterinarian for six years, said during the first week of the MCO, two rabbits were left at the entrance of his clinic in Perling.

“We have no choice but to care for the rabbits, provide them treatment and put them up for adoption, ” he said.

Dr Afiq believed that some owners abandoned their pets over misconception that they might contract Covid-19 from them.

He advised pet owners that there was no scientific evidence to show that humans could be infected with Covid-19 from their pets.

He also said that based on a directive by the Veterinary Services Department, only emergency operations were allowed to be conducted at pet clinics while spaying and castration would only be carried out after the MCO.