MORE people are giving up their pets due to the ecomonic downturn, said Selangor’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) manager Jacinta Johnson-Chan.
Johnson said based on figures for the past two years, the surrender rate of household pets had increased compared with the numbers adopted.
“The total number of animals surrendered in 2009 was 8,499 compared with 5,000 in 2008. However, only 1,790 were adopted,” she said, adding that the rest had to be put to sleep.
I want one: Actress Jojo Struys picking up a leash at the SPCA booth. “Apart from the slowdown in the economy, more and more pet owners are also opting to move into condominiums and apartments, and there are the irresponsible ones who don’t see their pet as a member of the family but just an animal,’’ she said.
According to Johnson, there is also a new trend developing whereby pet shops are allowing animals to be bought on instalment.
“It’s not illegal but unhealthy. People can now afford pedigrees but what they are not ready for is that pure breed dogs need high maintenance and need a lot of care.
“When they fall sick, people just discard them like rubbish because they can’t afford the time and money to keep them,’’ Johnson said, adding that the animal shelter receives a large number of pedigrees, too.
To encourage people to adopt, the SPCA and advertising agency Y&R and sponsors Purina and 1 Utama Shopping Centre embarked on an adoption campaign called “Take A Leash, Give A Life” via a big billboard to encourage people to adopt at the shopping centre during the weekend.
The first-of-its-kind campaign by SPCA Selangor aims to create awareness on the importance of adoption from the animal shelter, as they struggle to find a home for more than 700 animals surrendered at their doorstep each month.
“It is an idea to get people to adopt pets from the shelter homes instead of buying them at pet shops. What happens is people who visit the booth are encouraged to take home a leash which is given free and it is okay if they want to adopt a dog at the end of the day -- we just want them to start thinking about it,’’ said Y&R regional head Edward Ong.
The adoption campaign was held from 10am to 7pm at LG Floor, Rainforest area, 1 Utama. Apart from the free limited edition leashes, visitors also bought merchandise, signed the “Animals Matter To Me” petition, and took part in some interesting animal-welfare themed games to raise funds for the animals.
Peiople who are considering adopting a pet should also drop by the SPCA Selangor. The next adoption drive would be held in Bangsar Shopping Centre.
For enquiries, contact SPCA’s team at 03-42535312 or e-mail enquiries@spca.org.my
By BAVANI M, The Star Newspaper.
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Dorothy Loong
www.DogMillion.com
