KOTA KINABALU: Local animal rights activists have urged authorities to act on repeated complaints of cruelty against stray dogs in Telipok Ria, after another disturbing case surfaced.
Volunteers from the Borneo Animal Welfare Society (BAWS), who were conducting a trap-and-neuter programme in the area, found a white stray dog with multiple unusual wounds allegedly inflicted by children throwing firecrackers at it.
“At first glance, the injuries looked like bullet holes. But when we spoke to a local feeder, the truth was far worse,” a BAWS spokesperson said in a Facebook post on Friday (March 20).
“The dog had been used as target practice. Children were throwing firecrackers at him for fun, some exploding directly on his body and leaving painful, pus-filled wounds,” the spokesperson added.
The group claimed such acts of cruelty were not isolated, alleging that abuse of stray dogs has been a recurring issue in Telipok Ria.
They said concerns had been raised on social media for years, with reports lodged to both the police and the Sabah Veterinary Services Department (DVS), but alleged that little action had been taken.
“An innocent animal, suffering simply because it has no one to protect it. This is now the second cruelty case reported in Telipok Ria, after Puteh,” the group said.
“And when these animals act in fear to defend themselves, they are often labelled aggressive — giving people more reason to harm or kill them.”
BAWS urged the public to report any instances of animal abuse and called for greater compassion towards strays.
The group added that a report has been lodged with the DVS, and expressed hope that a thorough investigation would be carried out to identify those responsible.
Attempts to contact the DVS for comment were unsuccessful.
