Cases of pet neglect, abuse on the rise
KOTA KINABALU: In a shocking display of cruelty, a defenceless mother dog was subjected to a brutal, coordinated assault while trying to protect her two puppies in Kinarut.
The helpless animal was repeatedly beaten with a wooden plank and pelted with heavy stones. Its fur was also defaced with black graffiti drawn by the local residents.
Alerted to the horrifying scene on July 9, rescuers from SPCA Kota Kinabalu raced against time to reach the residential area.
While they managed to pull the traumatised mother and one surviving puppy from the nightmare, the fate of the second puppy remains unaccounted for.
The SPCA has officially reported the atrocity to the Veterinary Services Department in Papar, demanding a full investigation.
Tragically, rescuers say this nightmare is far from rare.
“Sadly, this is not an isolated concern,” said an SPCA spokesperson, pointing out that these animals are often subjected to abuse due to fear or lack of understanding about the nature of dogs.
The SPCA cited another case in which a nine-year-old dog died two weeks after being abandoned by its owner who wanted to marry a woman who did not like canines.
“This is unfair to us as rescuers and your pets as well. Imagine having lived so long with someone and then just being dumped like trash,” the SPCA said in a Facebook post.
Animal rights activists are concerned about the never-ending cases of animal cruelty and abandonment that they have to face daily as well as the increasing costs of helping them.
The SPCA said all of the dogs would be given veterinary examinations, vaccinations, deworming, flea treatment and the care they need to recover.
Mother dogs will also be neutered once the veterinarian confirms they are medically ready.
While many residents compassionately feed strays, the SPCA urged owners to be more responsible and called on the community to show greater empathy.
The SPCA noted a rising number of requests from residents and apartment management to evict neighbourhood dogs.
“But simply removing or killing the dogs does not solve the stray animal problem,” the organisation stressed.
It said that long-term solutions lie in responsible pet ownership, widespread neutering, proper waste management, secure fencing around the neighbourhood and community education.
Humane, practical and compassionate approaches are the only sustainable ways to reduce stray populations, said the SPCA.
Veterinarian Dr Randolf Paza said he had noticed a rising trend of pet abandonment.
Animal cruelty and abandonment are mainly due to lack of proper knowledge, he said, adding that he hopes more awareness could be raised to address this matter.
While low funds limit his ability to rescue as many animals as possible, he acknowledged that many kind-hearted volunteers do step up to help in other ways.
Shelter of Hope Penampang operator Adrienne Godfrey Johniu has frequently emphasised the need for greater pet owner responsibility and community kindness toward strays.
She added that enforcement officers tasked with catching strays must also carry out their work humanely.
However, Johniu noted that independent rescue efforts are constantly hindered by financial constraints.
“As independent rescuers, our hands are always tied, especially when donations start to slow down,” she said, suggesting that it would be beneficial for the government to allocate dedicated funds for animal rescue initiatives in Sabah.
